Senator Leila de Lima has filed a resolution expressing the Senate’s profound sympathy and sincere condolences to the family of former President Benigno Aquino III who died last week.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 764, De Lima said Aquino’s selfess service and love for Filipinos deserve more than emulation as the long list of the gains of his dedicated administration and unparalleled leadership has an impact to the country to this very date.

“Through his exemplary and moral leadership, he was admired not only by Filipinos but by various leaders all over the world,” De Lima said in a statement.

“President Noynoy Aquino has lived a fulfilled and selfless life that serves as inspiration to all and epitomizes the beast qualtiifes of the Filipino nation—he exuded decency, honor, respect, integrity and morality,” she stressed.

“For all his contributions to society, for the times he chose to cleanse the nation of corruption and illegal practices even if it cost political allies – we will forever be truly grateful,” she added.

Aquino was a former member of the House of Representatives and the Senate before he was swept into power in 2010 as the 15th President of the Philippines. He passed away last June 24, at the age of 61.

Upon his election as President, De Lima said the former president did not shy away from the greatest challenges that beset the country, including, among others, concerns on corruption and economy.

Under his watch, the country was transformed from being the “Sick Man of Asia” to “Asia’s Rising Tiger,” leaving the next administration with strong economic fundamentals and a vibrant economy.

The Philippines’ ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report also rose to 47th out of 140 economies in 2015 from 87th among 133 before Aquino took office in 2010.

She also said Aquino expanded the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipinoi Program (4Ps) which lifted the lives of 7.7 million Filipinos out of poverty.

But the most notable achievements of the Aquino administration was when he fought courageously for the country’s sovereignty against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands and won in the landmark case award in 2016.

“One of the momentous achievements of the Aquino administration was when it defended the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity through diplomacy, believing that adherence to international law will result not only in regional stability but also in more lasting resolutions to maritime disputes,” she stressed.