A product of the UP College of Law where she graduated in 1962, Ynares-Santiago started her career in the judiciary in 1973 when she was appointed Municipal Judge of Cainta, Rizal, a position she held for thirteen years.
[4] A still unresolved controversy over alleged bribery of Ynares-Santiago began in September 2007 when Amado "Jake" Macasaet wrote a story in his column for Malaya newspaper.
He wrote that P10 million was delivered to a female Supreme Court justice and mistakenly opened by one of her staff members named Cecilia.
There were five female Supreme Court justices at the time, but the circumstances (notably that she was the only one with a staff member named Cecilia—Daisy Cecilia Muñoz Delis) quickly made it clear that Ynares-Santiago was the target of Macasaet's column.
[6] Others, including Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago (no relation) have suggested that the charges are unfounded and intended to smear Ynares-Santiago and the entire judiciary in the interest of influencing other cases.