The 24-member Senate on Wednesday paid tribute to the late Senator Victor San Andres Ziga.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III spoke highly of the 75-year-old lawmaker, describing him as a principled man.

Ziga, according to Sotto, joined majority of his colleagues in the 8th Congress in rejecting in September 16, 1991 any extension of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement (MBA).

Sotto said Ziga proved his mettle when he voted ‘’No’’ to the RP-US MBA by saying ‘’I refuse to sacrifice our national interests in exchange for a bundle of vague promises.’’

Ziga further said he would continue to work for the best interests the country, Sotto recalled.

Sotto later presented to the late senator’s  family a copy of  Senate Resolution No. 630 expressing its profound sympathy for the passing of s principled man.   

The urn containing the remains of Ziga and a folded Philippine flag were on a table on the Senate session hall, The table was decked with flowers.  

‘’Your loss is our nation’s loss,’’ former Senator Joey Lina said. Lina and Ziga were members of the 8th Congress.

Lina said Ziga authored and co-authored 295 bills and resolutions.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon and Senators Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go, Sherwin Gatchalian and Emmanuel ’Manny’’ Pacquiao also delivered their eulogies.

Pacquiao described Ziga as a principled man. Ziga also led in the passage of the Build, Operate Transfer (BOT) law.  

‘’A life well lived,’’ Drilon said.

Although an ally of then President Cory Aquino, Ziga voted ‘’No’’ to the proposed extension of the RP-US MBA even though Cory Aquino led a march under a drizzle to the Senate to press senators to vote ‘’Yes’’ for the military bases agreement extension.

Then Senate President Jovito R. Salonga was not moved by the Cory march.

Drilon, then the Executive Secretary of President Cory Aquino, said the respect for Ziga by the late President never waned.

Ziga died last January 31.