Senate honors Jovito Salonga

Former and incumbent senators on Tuesday paid tribute to ex-Senate President Jovito Salonga, a former Palace hopeful who was best known for fighting the Marcos dictatorship and paving the way for American bases to leave the Philippines.

Among those present for the necrological services were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., former senators Wigberto Tañada, Alfredo Lim, Rene Saguisag, Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Heherson Alvarez, Edgardo Angara, and Ernesto Maceda.

Also in attendance were incumbent senators Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, Teofisto Guingona III, Juan Edgardo Angara, Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Wheelchair-bound Saguisag recalled Salonga's unrelenting fight for the nation's freedom from the dictatorial rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Shahani said Salonga succeeded in politics without compromising his principles while Alvarez recalled the former Senate leader as an erudite scholar.

"We need men like Jovi with democratic vision and enduring capacity in building this nation of freedom," Alvarez said.

Tañada said Salonga brought "dignity, honor and prestige" to the Senate, especially when the latter steered the votes which eventually shut down the US military bases in the country.

"He lived a purposeful life. He lived to be 95 but retained a vigorous and youthful spirit," Tañada said.

He also hailed Salonga for being an epitome of a servant leader as he challenged politicians to "do the right things for our people, to serve them humbly and honestly."

Former Senator Angara, meanwhile, said the 8th Congress (1987-1992) was "generally a tranquil body" and "full of hope," thanks to Salonga whom his fellow senators looked up to.

Angara added Salonga led the legislative chamber through humility.

Legarda, for her part, considered Salonga a "great Filipino," who also became her mentor and adviser when she was a junior senator in the late 1990s.

Drilon shared that Salonga's life and work inspired him and others to emulate the former Senate president, "whose wit, brilliance and undying love for the motherland held this country in awe."

"As a young senator, I would be frequently summoned by Ka Jovy to breakfast at his house. I remember the orange juice that we would always drink for breakfast at his house. Indeed those were happy times, when, as Ed Angara said, they became question and answer sessions. Indeed I was peppered with a lot of questions from Ka Jovy during those breakfasts that we had," Drilon said.

The Senate leader also pointed out how Salonga held his ground against the ratification of the US bases treaty despite a personal appeal from then President Corazon Aquino, who even led a rally of pro-bases demonstrators in Luneta in September 1991.

"Ka Jovy held his ground. He showed much respect to President Cory Aquino, but firmly and politely maintained his principle that the Senate and he cannot support the ratification of the RP-US bases treaty. The rest is history," Drilon said.

Senate Resolution 118 expressing the sympathy of the Senate on Salonga's death was then presented to his family.

In his response, Salonga's son Esteban Salonga thanked the Senate for giving their family an opportunity to hear once more "these wonderful stories" about their father.

"Dad loved this chamber. He lived most of his life attempting to shape Senate into something he thought the country will be proud of," Esteban said.

Salonga served as Senate President from 1987 to 1991. He was the only politician who topped the senatorial race three times (1965, 1971 and 1987).

During his Senate stint, Salonga authored the State Scholarship Law, the Disclosure of Interest Act, the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder. 

Salonga ran for president in 1992 but lost to then defense secretary Fidel V. Ramos.

Despite the defeat, Drilon said Salonga accepted the results of the election "with no bitterness or rancor, a trait which is so different to find today."

"Even if all his life, he prepared himself to lead our nation, he calmly accepted that the presidency may not be his destiny," Drilon said. —KG, GMA News