Former senator, human rights advocate Saguisag dies at 84
(UPDATE) FORMER senator and veteran human rights lawyer Rene Saguisag has died, his family announced on Wednesday.
«It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Papa and Lolo,» Saguisag's family said.
The announcement was made through the Facebook page of Saguisag's son, Rebo.
Former senator Rene Saguisag, with former vice president Jejomar Binay, talks to media before offering flowers at the monument of Ninoy Aquino in Makati City on Feb. 25, 2020.«As we mourn his loss, we take solace in the enduring impact of his legacy,» the statement read.
«Rene Saguisag was a dedicated public servant, and his tireless endeavors as a human rights advocate, senator and writer stand as a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice, truth and democracy,» it added. «For him, expertise in law was a means to serve the poor and disenfranchised, and he provided legal aid to those in need.»
The family was also grateful that the late former senator had spent the final months of his life with relatives, friends and supporters, and passed away «knowing that he was much loved and respected.»
AdvertisementThe Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines also paid tribute to Saguisag in a statement on Wednesday, calling him a «symbol of promoting democracy, human rights, and social justice.»
«As a lawyer, he was among those who stood up against abuses during Martial Law. As a member of the Liberal Party, he raised the bar for those in public service, not only through the laws he authored but also through the personal fulfillment of his sworn duty. As a writer, he used his deep understanding of the law and his experience to criticize what he saw as wrong in the government, including the erasure and revision of our history,» the LP wrote in Filipino.
Former senator and LP spokesman Leila de Lima also honored Saguisag in a separate post on the X social media platform.
«Thank you Sen. Rene for all your support in all the more than 6 years of my imprisonment. Thank you for being there in my trial to show your solidarity even when it was already difficult for you to travel,» she wrote. «The Philippine legal community has lost another luminary, and the Filipino people have
