The remains of the late Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III inside the plenary hall of the House of Representatives. Karen Boncocan/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines— In spite of the bad weather, lawmakers and staff of the House of Representatives arrived early at the Batasan Complex Wednesday to pay their last respects to the late Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III, the father of Senator Francis Escudero.
The requiem mass for the elder Escudero shortly after at 9 a.m. inside the plenary hall where his remains were brought from Mount Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City.
A marching band from the Philippine National Police guided the hearse carrying Escudero’s remains into the House of Representatives where staff and lawmakers alike awaited carrying white roses.
Senator Escudero was present, wearing a black armband, like the other lawmakers. Dr. Evelina Guevarra-Escudero and other family members were also present.
The late congressman’s remains will be returned to Mount Carmel Church after lunch and will be flown to Sorsogon by Thursday morning. The date of the late lawmaker’s interment has yet to be announced.
Escudero died in his sleep at his Quezon City home before dawn on Monday. He was 69.
The late congressman earned much respect from his colleagues at the House of Representatives for his dedication for work despite battling with cancer for two years. He kept on attending sessions, committee hearings and even President Benigno Aquino III’s third State of the Nation Address even if he had to do it in a wheelchair.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., a friend of Escudero’s, said that the late representative of the first district of Sorsogon deserved to be emulated for his unmatched commitment to public service.
Escudero served as the chairman of the House committee on basic education and culture and the vice chairman of the committee on food security. He also served as Dean of the University of the Philippines Los Banos’ College of Veterinary Medicine and Minister of Food and Agriculture from 1984 to 1986.
Originally posted at 09:36 am | Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012