One of the most prominent and brilliant politician of the Philippines, former Senate President Jovito Salonga passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2016, he was 95 years old. The death of Sen. Jovito Salonga was confirmed by Malacanang through presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
Sen. Jovito Salonga was considered by many political analysts in the country as one of the most brilliant and qualified president of the Philippines if he was given the chance the serve the country. The former senator served as the country’s 14th Senate President upon the restoration of the Philippine Senate in 1987. He once run for President during the 1992 elections but lost to eventual winner, former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos.
Sen. Salonga took up law at the University of the Philippines and one of the few topnotchers of the Bar Exam who served the Filipino people as a politician, he topped the 1944 Bar Exam with 95.5 percent ratings alongside fellow prominent political leader Jose W. Diokno.
As a public servant, Sen. Salonga was one of those who were seriously wounded in the Plaza Miranda bombing during the Liberal Party proclamation rally in 1971. He was also the first chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, which was tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.
According to some reports, Sen. Jovit Salonga has been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and was being fed through a tube after suffering stroke in 2012. The son of the senator, Steve Salonga also revealed that her father could no longer speak, move, or understand people around him.
Here’s the Official Statement of Malacanang on Sen. Salonga’s Death:
“With heads bowed in grief and respect, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Senator Jovito Salonga. His passing marks the departure from this life of another of those brave, committed individuals who lit a candle during the deep darkness of the dictatorship; and who contributed to the restoration of our democratic way of life after the triumph of People Power,”
“His life stands as a reproach to all those who would put personal gain ahead of public service; who would lower the standards of public discourse; and who would sacrifice human rights and the rule of law either for personal or partisan advantage. He joins the ranks of those who have made the position of senator of the Republic an honorable, and respectable, thing. His passing challenges all who would seek election to live up to a life well lived as a patriot and citizen,” Lacierda stated.