Colleagues mourn Roco’s death

The late former senator Raul Roco’s colleagues in the Senate remember him best for his idealism, sincerity in public service and concern for women.

Given the title of "honorary woman" for the laws he drafted to empower females, Roco was believed to be well-prepared for the presidency. "People are our wealth. They are more important than institutions," his former staff and colleagues often remember him saying.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Roco’s death is a "big loss to the country."

"He was not afraid to take unpopular stands, and for what he believed was right. He was not afraid to swim against the tide. And for that, Raul had a good life," Drilon said.

In their younger days, Drilon and Roco worked together as lawyers in a law firm, and later in the Senate. "He was always a principled man," Drilon said, describing Roco as a model for Filipinos, both in the legal profession and as a public servant.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Malacañang mourns the death of Roco, "a true patriot and freedom fighter."

"He was an exemplary lawyer, legislator and leader who inspired many with not just his words, but his actions," Bunye added. "His passing is a great loss for our nation."

Vice President Noli de Castro said Roco was "one of the country’s ace legislators, who consistently strove to provide meaningful and beneficial laws."

"Rest assured that your legacy will be remembered by future generations of Filipinos and your advocacies for clean and honest government and your nationalist ideas will remain our guiding principles," De Castro said.

Sen. Joker Arroyo said Roco was an idealistic person, but his problems started when he "sought to combine his idealism with politics, a difficult combination, compromise being the hallmark of politics."

"He was uncompromising in his resistance to separate the two. That was his virtue as a true leader, his failing as a politician," Arroyo said.

He also described Roco as a "giant of a leader" who, unfortunately, did not win the presidency. "He left a very successful law practice and entered politics because he believed, and rightly so, that for one to get his ideas on governance implemented, he must be an effective leader by being democratically and honestly elected to high public office," Arroyo said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel JR. said Roco was a conscientious lawmaker who "was passionate in his views. We will miss his trenchant mind."

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay said Roco was a "true and effective public servant who served his country with distinction."

Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan said Roco remained a pillar of courage and strength as he battled with cancer.

"He is irreplaceable, as he was a sincere and earnest public servant who loved the Filipino," he said.

Pangilinan reminded his colleagues that Roco’s death should serve as a reminder to them, particularly in the midst of the prevailing political turmoil, that "as public servants, in the final analysis, death will be our ultimate destination."

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said Roco’s brand of leadership "is just among the legacies he left behind. As a candidate in the last presidential election, he was the first to concede defeat — a mark of a true gentleman and statesman."

"His performance as a legislator speaks for itself... He passionately upheld the welfare and rights of women and youth, which endeared him to many. His long bout with cancer did not deter him from continuing his advocacies," Villar said.

His wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, said Roco was a big loss to the country, being a good educator and politician.

No hard feelings

Domingo Alidon, president of the Department of Education (DepEd) Employees’ Union, extended his group’s condolences to Roco’s family.

The union had filed graft charges against Roco after he stopped the DepEd payroll personnel from deducting a percentage of the teachers’ salaries as payment for processing them. Roco said while the practice was legal under the General Appropriations Act, it was "immoral" since payroll personnel were already being paid to process teachers’ salaries.

Alidon said the union and Roco may have clashed on a number of issues in the past, but the disputes never became personal.

Education Secretary Ramon Bacani, who is currently in the United States, relayed his message of sympathy to Roco’s family through DepEd officer-in-charge Fe Hidalgo.

Both Bacani and Hidalgo served as Roco’s undersecretaries during the latter stint as education chief from February 2001 to September 2002.

Hidalgo said she has fond memories of Roco, who was creative in designing programs to improve the educational system in the country.

Setting the template

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., a provincemate of Roco, said the defeated presidential candidate was "the best president the country never had."

"Roco had set the template for excellence and ethics in public service such that future aspirants for the presidency must demonstrate proof that they are as good as him," Andaya said.

"The Roco standard has been attached to the highest office of the land," he added.

Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri described Roco as a patriot.

"There is an office higher than the Office of the President, and that is the Office of the Patriot. Raul Roco occupied that space," he said.

"Fate may not have smiled kindly on his bid to lead the country, but his legacy of clean, competent and committed public service will last longer than those who, although they were able to occupy the highest office, did not serve its highest ideals," Zubiri said.

He added that Roco was a brilliant lawyer and education secretary who was idolized by the youth and other Filipinos "who shared his fire and conviction."

Majority Leader Prospero Nograles said the House of Representatives "mourns the death of our human rights lawyer and bar topnotcher."

"A righteous and principled man of honor and integrity who was served his country well and inspired the youth of the land with his idealism, vision and hope for a better country. This was his legacy to the Filipino people as he was fighting with his last ounce of courage," he said.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who was Roco’s chief of staff when he was a congressman, said with his former boss’ death, the country "has just lost an intellectual giant whose voice could have helped clarify the current anguish of our troubled national conscience."

"Among his peers in the political domain, he was unique in skillfully employing the power of analogy, historical parallels and examples to reduce complex issues like debt reduction, central monetary authority and securities regulation to easily digestible ideas which helped their passage. In fact, as (a member of) his staff, my only fight with him was over the use of ‘may’ or ‘might’ in a press release," he said.

Salceda said Roco’s "decency was unimpeachable and diligence in public service was impeccable."

He pointed out that his former boss was "too principled to become president."

"The Philippines needs a Roco but is not prepared for one. He was way ahead of his people, but that is what leadership is all about. I was fortunate to have walked with one gentle giant in a landscape scattered with the debris of broken political hubris," Salceda said.

Of the four congressmen who had glowing words for the late Roco, only Andaya had supported his fellow Bicolano’s failed presidential bid.

House deputy director for communications Noel Albano said Roco will be "sorely missed... by the youth who deeply admired him and those in politics who value decency and integrity."

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who ran under Roco’s Aksyon Demokratiko party, said Roco was "one politician who in many ways was ‘unpolitical’ because he disdained partisan compromises, did not engage in patronizing gimmickry, avoided petty talk and did not subdue his intellect simply to appear common or popular."

"Roco was primed for the presidency but was not favored by destiny," Lagman said.

Loss of a statesman

Manila Overseas Press Club president Tony Lopez said their group joins the nation "in grieving the loss of a statesman who epitomized competence, efficiency, decency, integrity and purposeful vision in public service."

"For us in the journalism profession, he represented the love for and the struggle for freedom, which all democratic people must embrace without reservation," he added.

Former President Corazon Aquino extended her sympathies to Roco’s family. "I can imagine the pain they are feeling now. I would also like to thank Raul for all he has done for the country," she said.

Former President Fidel Ramos, who worked with Roco during the regular Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meetings in Malacañang, said he hopes Roco’s family will "be assuaged by the fact that he has created for himself a special place in Philippine history."

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Roco will be remembered as a "pillar of righteousness, a man of the people, a giant in the law profession, and a brilliant legislator."

"Roco is an esteemed statesman, a dedicated family man, a quality educator, an erudite advocate for good governance, and a beacon for all Filipinos who wish to give their best for the country," he said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the whole country mourns the death of Roco, whom he called a "great leader, a dear friend and a statesman."

"He is irreplaceable and his record, integrity, decency and statesmanship remain a model for all to emulate," Romulo said.

Susan Roces, the widow of movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., paused in the middle of her speech before students, school officials and supporters of her late husband at the Virgen Milagrosa University in San Carlos City, Pangasinan. She asked the crowd to observe a minute of silence to pray for the eternal repose of Roco’s soul.

Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid said whether or not people believed Roco’s strong political statements, "the fact still remains that Roco is one of the respected leaders in our country."

"He has influenced the masses by his unwavering and strong political views, no matter what the issue is," he added. — With Aurea Calica, Non Alquitran, Jess Diaz, Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano, Jaime Laude, and Cesar Ramirez