‘We owe a lot to him:’ Resolution honoring ex-Senator Alvarez filed at Senate
MANILA, Philippines — Senators have filed a resolution honoring the late Senator Heherson Alvarez, who recently died due to complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Six senators filed Senate Resolution 371 on Monday “expressing the profound sympathy and sincere condolences of the Senate on the death of the honorable Heherson ‘Sonny’ Turingan Alvarez.”
The resolution described Alvarez as a “distinguish lawmaker, dedicated public servant, environmental advocate, human rights activist and a loving husband and father.”
“Constrained as we are by this pandemic, we really wanted to file this resolution in as timely a manner as we could, so that the Senate can officially recognize Sen. Sonny Alvarez for his great contributions to this country,” Senate Majority Juan Miguel Zubiri, one of the authors of the resolution, said in a statement on Tuesday.
READ: ‘He was a fighter’: Senators mourn passing of Alvarez
Aside from Zubiri, Senators Richard Gordon, Sonny Angara, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, and Joel Villanueva also authored the resolution.
“In time, we will be able to gather again in the Senate and celebrate the amazing life of service that he led,” Zubiri added.
Alvarez died due to COVID-19 complications on April 20. He was 80 years old.
READ: Ex-Senator Heherson Alvarez succumbs to COVID-19
The late senator served two terms in the Senate. He was known for pushing for environmental protection measures, such as the Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Air Act.
He was also an outspoken champion of human rights, particularly during the martial law under the Marcos regime.
“He was a real man of conviction, as fine a statesman as this nation has ever seen, and I am so blessed to have had the experience of working with him,” Zubiri went on.
“Seeing him passionately pursue his environmental advocacies was very inspiring to me, as a young legislator, especially since he was fighting for the environment way before it became fashionable. We owe a lot to him,” he added.
