MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday offered sympathy to the family of former Deputy Speaker and Cebu City First District Rep. Raul del Mar who passed away Monday evening.
Del Mar, who served as congressman of Cebu City’s north district for nine terms since 1987, died in a hospital in Manila. He was 79.
House of Representatives Secretary-General Jocelia Bighani-Sipin confirmed del Mar’s death.
“We pray for the eternal repose of his soul, and for his family and loved ones to find strength in this time of grief,” Andanar said in a statement.
Andanar said del Mar’s commitment to his work will be remembered by the constituents he served during his tenure, particularly the underprivileged.
He also hailed del Mar for helping the growth and development of his district on matters of infrastructure, social services, and poverty alleviation.
Andanar also cited the late lawmaker for his legislative work on media concerns.
Del Mar was the principal author of Republic Act No. 11122 of 2018 which declares September 21 of each year as a working holiday in the cities and province of Cebu in celebration of the Cebu Press Freedom Day.
“Being the son of a journalist and a manager of a local newspaper, his dedication to promote and improve a free yet responsible journalism and media landscape is truly worth noting, which led to people hailing him as ‘Kampeon sa Medya,’” he said.
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, in a separate statement, expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of the former Deputy Speaker.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his constituencies in the first district of Cebu City, whom he had served well despite his health condition,” Velasco said.
Velasco noted that del Mar has proven his passion and commitment to public service by attending virtual plenary sessions and public hearings of the House while in hospital to fulfill his duties and mandate as a lawmaker.
“Never a day in his job was he absent. His contributions to Congress and the nation cannot be overstated,” he said. (PNA)
