GOVERNMENT leaders in Eastern Visayas have mourned and expressed condolences on the death of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Thursday morning, June 24, 2021. He was 61.
“It is a sad day for our nation to see the passing of a former President. He served our nation and dedicated many years to public service. He will be remembered and missed,” said Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.
“Maraming salamat sa iyong taos pusong paglilingkod sa bayan, PNoy. Rest in heaven,” wrote Palo town mayor Ann Petilla as the flags at the Palo Municipal Building were also at half-mast to join the Filipino people in mourning the passing of the former president.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez also expressed his sympathy to the former president, saying: “It is always the right time to be united as a people in moments such as these.”
“May his brief life on earth be rewarded with eternal happiness in heaven,” Romualdez said.
“We would like to express our sincere appreciation for all his assistance and support to the province of Eastern Samar from infrastructure projects to social services. He really cared for our people,” added Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone.
In a separate statement, Samar First District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento said the former president was “like his parents, he served our country so well.
Aquino, the only son and third child of the late former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., whose assassination in 1983 led to the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, followed the footsteps of his mother, Corazon “Cory” Aquino, who also became a president during the 1986 People Power Revolution.
“He was a friend. We were together in the 13th Congress. Principled and grounded. While I was not a party mate, I was considered as a friend by him personal and political,” said An Waray Congressman Bem Noel.
“Our heartfelt condolences to the Aquino family and to the country. Pnoy served our country well and was responsible for many accomplishments in Samar Island. He was both a friend and an idol I will miss,” added Representative Paul Daza of Northern Samar First District.
In a statement, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado thanked Aquino for his service to the Filipino people.
“It is with deep sadness that the Province of Samar joins the nation in grief for the loss of a great leader, President Noynoy Aquino,” wrote Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan.
“We all grieve for losing him so early—a man of integrity, a Filipino leader who made it his primary mission to institutionalize good governance reform,” added Leyte First District Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Aquino, an economist and chairman of then ruling party Liberal Party, also served as a representative of the Second District of Tarlac for three terms and senator before he became the country’s 15th president from 2010 to 2016 under the campaign banner of “Daang Matuwid (Right Path).” (SunStar Philippines)