- Salonga died on Thursday at the age of 95
- Tributes from government officials poured in, remembering his legacy
- He is described as ‘the best president the country never had’
MANILA, Philippines – Former Senate President Jovito Salonga died following a cardiac arrest on Thursday, March 10, at 95 years old. Tributes for the statesman quickly poured in from people who admired him for being the epitome of the ultimate statesman.
Theodore Te, spokesman for the Supreme Court, described Salonga as the best president the country never had.
“Paalam, Ka Jovy Salonga [Goodbye, Ka Jovy Salonga]. He was the last candidate for president that I voted for and IMO, with Ka Pepe (Diokno), the best President we never got,” GMA News’ Xianne Arcangel quoted Atty. Te as saying.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago also sent her condolences to the family of the deceased World War II veteran.
“We have lost a respected statesman today. My deepest sympathies to the family of former Senator Jovito Salonga,” Santiago wrote on Twitter.
Nation’s Fizcalizer
Salonga was hailed as the ‘Nation’s Fiscalizer’ by The Philippine Free Press in 1968 due to his staunch opposition to Marcos and various exposes against the administration. He is a brilliant lawyer having topped, together with Jose Diokno, the Philippine Bar Examination in 1944 with a rating of 95.3%
Remembering Salonga’s achievements, Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said his passing marks the departure of another brave and committed individual “who lit a candle during the deep darkness of the dictatorship.”
“With heads bowed in grief and respect, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Senator Jovito Salonga,” Lacierda said in a statement; adding that the latter was one of those who helped restore the democratic way of life in the country after the triumph of the People Power.
Vice President Jejomar Binay also described Salonga as a “pillar of the protest movement who steered the Senate during the difficult years of transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Remarkable legacy as legislator
Jovy Salonga’s achievements and performance in both the Congress (as a congressman and then a senator) is highly remarkable.
He authored several laws that had practical impact on different sectors of society like State Scholarship Law, the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees among other important legislations.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said it is almost impossible to follow in Salonga’s footsteps as one of the country’s esteemed legislators during his time.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Jovy for dedicating his talents, bravery and his life’s work to the Filipino people. He is a tough act to follow and a source of pride for us,” Belmonte told GMA News.
Senator Grace Poe, for her part, remembered one of Salonga’s famous words, which said: “We cannot and do not deserve freedom unless we are prepared to fight for it, to suffer for it and, if necessary, to die for it.”
Epitome of a true statesman
Perhaps, Salonga will be most remembered for his stand on the Sabah claim against Malaysia and the rejection of RP-US Bases in 1991 when he sat as Senate president.
In fact, it was assumed that because of the latter, he lost the 1992 presidential election to Fidel V. Ramos despite the seemingly strong support from younger voters and students.
He is the only senator to have won and topped the senatorial elections three times in as many attempts. He was elected in 1965, then in 1971, and finally in 1987 during the Cory Aquino administration where he went on to become the Senate President.
Salonga is an epitome of a decent, humble, courageous and brilliant leader; qualities that many Filipinos so desperately need and remains elusive up to the present.
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