The Senate on Monday paid tribute to former senator Victor Ziga, who passed away at age 75.
Senators adopted Senate Resolution No. 630, which expresses the chamber's "profound sympathy and sincere condolences" on Ziga's death. Senators also decided to adjourn their plenary session early, following their tradition in honor of colleagues who died.
Ziga served as a senator during the 8th Congress, from 1987 to 1992.
"The passing away of a great and dedicated public servant who had established standards of excellence in and in devotion to public service is a great loss to the nation," Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said in sponsoring the resolution.
Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, remembered Ziga for his humility.
"Senator Ziga has always been a quiet presence, even in our class in Ateneo, he was our classmate, never even felt him. He was so quiet...very few actually remembered him because he has such a humble persona. This, from a man whose father was governor of Bicol and certainly from a mother who was certainly an overachiever herself," Gordon said.
Ziga was a son to former Albay governor Venancio Ziga, and former senator Tecla San Andres Ziga, the first woman to top the bar examination in the Philippines.
"In spite of a very, very great progeny, the man (Ziga) remains simple, quite, humble, a gentleman," Gordon added.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, said cited Ziga for being one of the so-called "Magnificent 12" -- senators who made history for voting against the Philippines and the Unites States treaty that allowed American military presence in the country in 1991.
Ziga, she said, helped "bring our relationship, not only with the US, but with the whole world to a new level, pushing forward an independent and interdependent foreign policy."
"My sincere condolences as well to his family, prayers for his peace that he so richly deserves. We will never forget former senator Ziga," Hontiveros said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he was saddened by the death of Ziga, who he also considered a friend, having shared the same advocacy in the fight against illegal drugs.
"We did not serve together but we were textmates during the last few years. We talked politics and I enjoyed his insights regarding our political landscape," Sotto said in a text message.
Sotto, during the Senate session also shared a fond memory of Ziga.
"During that time we, were already in a television noon-time program, and we were called 'Tito, Vic, and Joey'. There was a 'Tito, Vic and Joey' in the 8th Congress and one of them is now missing: It was 'Tito' (Teofisto) Guingona, 'Vic' Ziga, and 'Joey' (Jose) Lina," he recalled.
Ziga died on Sunday afternoon, reportedly due to heart and organ failure.
Aside from serving in the Senate, he was also a former assemblyman, a former Minister of General Services, and a former governor of Albay province.