Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III passes away

(Updated 7:47 a.m.) - Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, the father of incumbent Sen. Francis Escudero, passed away in his Quezon City house before dawn Monday, the office of the House Secretary General said. Rep. Escudero, 69, died in his sleep after battling cancer for two years, a text message from the office of House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap confirmed.

 

His remains will be brought to the Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila in Quezon City on Monday afternoon, the House Secretary General added. Rep. Escudero died at about 3:30 a.m., radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo reported.

 

The dzBB report said Sen. Escudero thanked those who offered prayers for the family, and asked the public for more prayers.

 

A separate report by dzBB's Rowena Salvacion quoted House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II as saying Escudero was a "big loss" to the House of Representatives.

 

The Philippine flag at the House of Representatives in Quezon City is to fly at half-mast to mourn his death.

 

The report said the elder Escudero, despite his failing health, even attended President Benigno Aquino III's State of the Nation Address last July 23.

 

At the time, the report said Escudero was wheelchair-bound and had to be assisted when boarding his vehicle.

 

Escudero's page in the House of Representatives website indicated he chaired the basic education and culture committee and was a vice chairman of the food security committee.

 

He was also a member of the following committees: