Former senator Santanina Rasul (Robin Padilla's Facebook)

Ranking solons from the Senate and the House of Representatives joined the nation in mourning the passing of former senator Santanina Rasul.

Amid their grief, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and House Deputy Majority Leader Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman cited the legacy of Rasul as the first! Muslim woman to serve in the Philippine Senate.

Pimentel described Rasul as "one of the most beloved Mindanaonons".

"Senator Rasul was a dedicated public servant and an inspiration to countless Filipinos. As the first Muslim woman to serve in the Philippine Senate, she broke barriers and paved the way for greater representation and equality," he said in a statement Saturday, Nov. 30.

"Her dedication to public service was evident throughout her career, culminating in her authorship of various laws, including the landmark Republic Act (RA) No. 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act, which outlawed discrimination against women," Pimentel said.

"Senator Rasul was also one of my father’s closest allies. Together, she and my father, Ka Nene Pimentel, led the fight for Mindanaoan empowerment and representation," he said.

"Today, we celebrate her life, memories, and the enduring impact she had on our nation. Let us honor her memory by continuing the fight for equality, justice, and the betterment of our society. Senator Santanina Rasul's legacy will live on in the hearts of all those whose lives she touched and in the laws and policies that continue to shape our nation," added Pimentel.

For his part, Hataman also hailed Rasul's much-celebrated RA No.7192, as well as RA No. 6949 that declared March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day in the Philippines. 

"Isinulong niya ang mga batas na nagtaguyod sa karapatan ng mga Muslim at mga kababaihan na nagbigay-daan sa kanilang mas aktibong partisipasyon sa iba’t ibang larangan," he said in a separate statement.

(She pursued laws that fought for the rights of Muslims and women, which paved the way for their more active participation in different fields. 

"Bilang senador, naging tagapangulo siya ng Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization at ng Committee on Women and Family Relations kung saan ipinamalas ni Sen. Rasul ang kanyang dedikasyon sa pagsusulong ng mga reporma para sa ikabubuti ng sambayanan," he said.

(As a senator, she chaired the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization and the Committee on Women and Family Relations wherein she displayed her dedication to pursuing reforms for the betterment of the nation.)

Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said Rasul's contributions to the fields of education, women's rights, and peace became an inspiration to many, including himself.

"Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa kanyang paglilingkod at mga naiambag sa ating bansa. Ang kanyang legacy ay mananatiling buhay sa puso ng bawat Pilipino," he further said.

(We thank her wholeheartedly for her service and contributions to the country. Her legacy will remain in the hearts of every Filipino.)

Rasul passed away on Nov. 29.