Emmanuel Maceda, eldest son of the late Sen. Ernesto Maceda, points to the glasses in the portrait of his father during the wake of Sen. Maceda at Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday mourned the passing of former senator Ernesto Maceda, who he considers a close friend. Maceda died Monday evening after undergoing gall-bladder surgery at the age of 81.
READ: Ex-Senator Maceda dies after gall bladder surgery
In a statement, Belmonte said Maceda was his close friend. Belmonte recounted how he offered his salary when he supported Maceda’s campaign as Manila councilor when Maceda was just 23 years old. Maceda won.
“Ernie was also a columnist and a very close friend to me. I remember fondly how I willingly offered my salary for a month to fully support his campaign and entry into politics when he ran for Councilor of Manila. He was eventually hailed as the No. 1 Councilor there at the age of 23,” Belmonte said.
“My colleagues in the House of Representatives and my family wish to extend our sympathy and prayers to the family of Ernesto M. Maceda,” he added.
READ: Palace, Binay mourn Ernesto Maceda’s death
According to the statement, Maceda was known as “Mr. Expose” and an outspoken politician.
Maceda served as the 18th Senate President from 1996-1998 and was a senator before that from 1971 to 1972 and from 1987 to 1998.
Maceda served as Secretary of Commerce and Industry, Executive Secretary and Presidential Assistant on Community Development during the Marcos administration.
He was also Philippine ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2001.
“Indeed, Ernie was a colorful politician with an equally colorful personality. We wish him eternal peace and eternal rest and thank him for his invaluable service to the Filipino people,” Belmonte said.
Maceda ran in the 2013 senatorial elections under the United Nationalist Alliance but lost. TVJ
READ: Ernesto Maceda; 81