Alan Peter Cayetano vs Miriam Defensor Santiago

Alan Peter Cayetano won a Senate seat in the 2007 Philippine general election. He served as a senator until 2017, focusing on foreign relations and education.

Cayetano was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Rodrigo Duterte. He served until 2018, overseeing the Philippines' foreign policy shift towards China and away from the United States.

Cayetano was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress. He served until 2020, when he stepped down as part of a term-sharing agreement with Lord Allan Velasco.

Santiago received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service. The award recognized her work as a judge and her efforts to reform the Philippine legal system, including her campaign against graft and corruption in the judiciary.

As a senator, Santiago authored Republic Act 7877, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act. The law defined sexual harassment in workplaces and educational institutions and established penalties. It was a landmark piece of legislation for women's rights in the Philippines.

Santiago was elected as a judge of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. She was the first Filipino and first Asian woman to hold the position. She served until 2014, when she resigned due to health reasons.

Santiago ran for president under the People's Reform Party. She campaigned on anti-corruption and good governance but finished 6th out of 5 candidates (one withdrew). Her campaign was hampered by her battle with lung cancer.