IN GRIEF. The Philippine flag at the Ormoc City Hall on Thursday (June 24, 2021) flies at half-mast to mourn the passing of former president Benigno S. Aquino III. Local officials in Eastern Visayas turned to social media to honor the late former president. (Photo courtesy of Lalaine Marcos)
TACLOBAN CITY – Local officials in Eastern Visayas turned to their Facebook (FB) personal accounts to post messages honoring former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who passed away on Thursday.
“Our heartfelt condolences to the Aquino family and the country. He served our country well and was responsible for many accomplishments in Samar Island. He was both a friend and an idol I will miss,” Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza said.
Daza is a Liberal Party (LP) member, the same party as the late former president. His father Raul, a former governor and lawmaker is the party’s stalwart in the region.
“Our deepest condolences to the family of former President Noynoy Aquino. Like his parents, he served our country so well,” Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento wrote.
Sarmiento is the younger brother of Mel Senen who was appointed as Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary during Aquino’s term.
For An Waray Rep. Florencio Noel, Aquino has always been a friend to him since the latter served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007.
“We were together in the 13th Congress. He was principled and grounded. Even if I was not a party-mate, I was considered as a friend by him personally and politically,” said Noel, Aquino’s top campaigner in the region in 2010.
Governor Ben Evardone remembers all Aquino’s assistance and support to the province of Eastern Samar – from infrastructure projects to social services.
“Thank you PNoy for all the support to the Province of Eastern Samar – infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, flood control, school, and hospital buildings, and other social services. Thank you also for your legacy on good governance,” he added.
In Samar province, Governor Reynolds Michael Tan said “the province joins the nation in grief for the loss of a great leader.”
Despite differences between the Marcos and Aquino families, the two nephews of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos also joined the nation in mourning for the loss of the former chief executive.
“The news of his death was a shock to all of us. We all grieve for losing him so early. He’s a man of integrity, a Filipino leader who made it his primary mission to institutionalize good governance reforms,” Leyte 1st District Rep. and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.
His cousin, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, also condoled with the family of the former president.
“On behalf of the people of Tacloban, my condolences to the family of the late President Aquino. At 61, he was young. The work of a president is really challenging. It took a toll on his health,” Romualdez added. (PNA)
