Ex-Senate chief Angara, 83

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate president Edgardo Angara passed away yesterday morning from an apparent heart attack. He was 83.

His death was confirmed by his son Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara in his Twitter account.

“We ask for prayers for the repose of his soul,” Angara said.

He later announced that the wake of his father will be open for public viewing this afternoon at Chapels 6 to 9 at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

At the time of his death, the elder Angara was special envoy to the European Union as appointed by President Duterte on May 3 last year.

Ambassador Franz Jessen described Angara as “a great patriot and a true friend of the EU.”

“I am saddened to hear that Senator Ed Angara, a statesman and a good friend, has passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Jessen said.

Deputy Head of Mission of the French embassy Laurent Le Godec said Angara “did a lot to help develop Philippines-EU ties and friendship.”

“Condolences to @sonnyangara and to all his family,” Le Godec posted on Twitter.

Senators also expressed sadness over the former lawmaker’s passing.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said leaders of Angara’s caliber are a rare breed, and getting rarer still.

“It is difficult to quantify the contributions of one of the giants responsible for nurturing democracy in the years following the EDSA Revolution,” Pimentel said.

“Our institutions are the product of the hard work and brilliance of Senator Angara and the leaders of his generation, and millions of our countrymen are beneficiaries of his belief in the power of education to improve lives and drive national development,” he added.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III mourned the death of the former lawmaker, who he said was one of his mentors in the chamber, as he recalled that he and Angara campaigned together in the 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007 senatorial elections.

Sen. Joel Villanueva described the late senator as “an outstanding leader, statesman, lawyer, banker, farmer, patron of the arts and educator” while Sen. Loren Legarda said the nation “lost a great man, a visionary, an indefatigable worker, esteemed public servant, deep thinker, one of the Philippines’ most brilliant minds, a dear friend.”

Sen. Francis Escudero mourned the loss of “an excellent lawyer, dedicated educator, esteemed former colleague in the Senate and patriot” as Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Angara will always be remembered as “a trailblazer in education reform.”

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said his first encounter with Angara was when they both sat as members of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents in 1986 – the latter was UP president and the former was chairman of the UP Student Council.

“Little did we know that 15 years later, we would be colleagues in the Senate, pushing for causes we believed would better our country and the lives of our countrymen,” Pangilinan said.

Angara served as UP president from 1981 to 1987. 

‘Best president’

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Angara was “possibly one of the best presidents we could have had.”

“He taught me to focus on the important pieces of legislation that would make the most impact on the country rather than picking fights and taking on controversies,” Angara said.

Former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo described Angara as “a true leader who instituted reforms for the betterment of the country.”

“Most importantly, he was a friend whom I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with,” Arroyo said.

“May his courage and leadership continue to inspire others. He will be missed but his valuable contributions to the country will never be forgotten,” she said.

Angara was the longest-serving senator in the post-1986 EDSA People Power Revolution Senate. Except for a mandatory term break and stints in the executive branch, he has served as senator from 1987 to 2013.

He was Senate president from 1993 to 1995. – With Alexis Romero, Edith Ragalado, Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Pia Lee-Brago