MANILA, Philippines - Former senator and trade union leader Ernesto “Boy” Herrera died of heart ailment last night. He was 73.
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) director for education Raffy Mapalo confirmed his death at the Makati Medical Center, according to a GMA News report.
An advocate of law and order, Herrera served in the Senate from 1987 to 1998 and became the district representative of Bohol from the 8th to 10th Congress.
He was the author of Republic Act 6715 or the amended 1989 Labor Code, which strengthened workers’ rights and promoted peaceful relations between employers and employees.
He was a member of the Agrava Commission that investigated the Aug. 21, 1983 murder of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.
In one interview, he was quoted as saying “it’s about time the nation closed the book on the assassination.”