She is Chair Emerita and chief executive officer of the Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW).
[4] Her Peace 911 Initiative significantly reduced violent conflict in Paquibato District, Davao City within nine months of being implemented and is now being replicated across the Philippines.
[5] Santiago started working in peace negotiation in the 2000s when the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) wanted to separate from the rest of the Philippines.
Santiago saw the crisis as "an opportunity to show that women, even though they are largely noncombatants, could be a vital part of any peace talks.
[2] In 2001, she was a co-founder of the MCW, which includes women leaders from all faiths in the Philippines, allowing them to influence public policy and opinion.