MANILA -- Former Ambassador Jose Apolinario "Jun" Lozada, Jr. has passed away, his daughter confirmed on Tuesday.
His daughter told a television network that Lozada suffered a brain hemorrhage and was confined at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.
The late ambassador served as the country's representative to the Holy See, Austria, and Palau. From 1992 to 1998, the envoy served as adviser for foreign affairs and also appointments secretary to former President Fidel V. Ramos.
He then represented Negros Occidental at the House of Representatives for two consecutive terms until 2004.
In an interview, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano sent his condolences to the diplomat's family.
"To his family, please accept my sincere condolences," he said, adding the late diplomat's contributions during the Ramos administration and the public opinion he shares at present "will not be forgotten by the Filipino people."
Cayetano said Lozada was his seatmate during his stint in Congress.
"We did not agree on some issues then, lately we're not in agreement with other issues but I'm so sorry you know that 'yung nangyari sa kanya, I didn't know na 'yon yung sakit niya," he added.
DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato also sent his sympathies to the bereaved family of the ambassador.
"The last time I was with Ambassador Jose Apolinario Lozada Jr. was at the Command and General Staff College of the Armed Forces of the Philippines sometime last year. We had a lengthy discussion on the paper that I was planning to deliver about the Islamic State. I was looking forward to more conversations with Ambassador Jun -- a respected diplomat and legislator -- but that encounter with him in Camp Aguinaldo was going to be our last," he said in a public post.
"This morning, we heard the sad news that Ambassador Jun had passed away. I join the rest of the foreign service in mourning his passing," Cato added. (PNA)
