Senate to honor former Sen. Jovito Salonga

Former and present senators will pay tribute to former Senate President Jovito Salonga during his necrological services tomorrow, March 15, at 10 a.m.

Salonga, popularly known for steering the votes which eventually shut down the U.S. military bases in the country, succumbed to cardiac arrest at the Philippine Heart Center on Thursday afternoon. He was 95.

Senate Secretary Oscar Yabes said Senate President Franklin Drilon, along with other senators, Senate officials and protocol officers, will await the arrival of Salonga's family and the casket bearing the remains of the former statesman at the entrance of the Senate building in Pasay City at 9:45 a.m.

Drilon, the senators in attendance and Senate officials will escort Salonga and his family to the Session Hall at 9:50 a.m.

Yabes said Salonga will be available for public viewing at 11:30 a.m. He said the necrological services will be followed by lunch at the Recto-Laurel Rooms at 11:45 a.m., before Salonga's remains will be escorted to the ground floor for departure at 1 p.m.

Yabes said Drilon will present a resolution honoring Salonga to his family. He will also deliver a eulogy, along with Senators Serge Osmeña and Loren Legarda and former Senators Edgardo Angara, Rene Saguisag, Leticia Ramos-Shahani and Wiberto Tañada.

Dubbed the Nation's Fiscalizer, Salonga was Senate President from 1987 to 1991. He consistently topped three Senatorial elections despite lack of material means - a record without precedent in Philippine political history. He was elected under three different administrations, that of Macapagal, Marcos and Aquino.

Salonga was chosen as one of the most outstanding senators with his significant legislations, which included 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. (Pilar S. Macrohon)