Colleagues heap praises for late Rep. Escudero in necrological service

Representative Salvador “Sonny” Escudero III: Loved. Photo from congress.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—More than 100 lawmakers on Wednesday remembered the late Sorsogon Representative Salvador “Sonny” Escudero III as a dedicated and principled public servant who, despite his illness, went about his usual tasks at the House of Representatives.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. observed that there were over a hundred lawmakers present during the requiem Mass and necrological services for the elder Escudero. To him it was a “sign of how much we love Sonny.”

La Union Representative Victor Ortega, who spent many years as a congressman alongside Escudero, highlighted the lawmaker’s unmatched efforts in advocating measures on basic education and agriculture.

Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos also recalled Escudero’s loyalty to her husband, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, saying the lawmaker did not budge “even in the most critical time.”

The late congressman’s remains have been returned to Mount Carmel Church and will be flown to Sorsogon Thursday morning. The date of the late lawmaker’s interment has yet to be announced.

Some of the things Belmonte fondly recalled about Escudero were his motivation for public service and his commitment to his constituents whose many letters were painstakingly read and replied to by the late lawmaker himself. Sitting a desk away from the late Escudero at the session hall, the Speaker said that he would always see papers on top of Escudero’s desk.

The Sorsogon lawmaker would send back handwritten replies to each letter he received from constituents and listeners of his radio show, said An Waray Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel. Fondly calling Escudero “Tatay,” he said that he learned a lot from the late congressman who had perfect attendance in the first regular session of the 15th Congress and only two absences during the second regular session due to his illness.

Former Speaker Jose de Venecia and President Aquino’s celebrity sister, Kris, were also among the guests who attended the necrological services.

Escudero died of cancer at his Quezon City home before dawn on Monday. He was 69.