Several Philippine officials on Monday paid their last respects to former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines in Makati City.
Among those who went to Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko's residence were Vice President Sara Duterte and incoming Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. They signed a condolence book opened by the embassy to honor the memory of Abe, who was assassinated on June 8 at a campaign rally in Nara, Japan.
Duterte, in her Facebook post, said Kazuhiko's love for the Philippines will never be forgotten.
"On behalf of the Philippine Senate, I had visited the Residence of Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko this morning," Zubiri also said in his Facebook post, adding that Abe "was a close friend" of the Philippines because of his contribution to various sectors, including transportation, agriculture and peace in Mindanao.
On Sunday, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines announced that the Book of Condolence would also open at its Japan Information and Culture Center entrance in Pasay City.
The public could visit from July 11 to 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In a statement on Friday, the embassy grieved the passing of Abe, whose "immeasurable contributions to bringing Japan and the Philippines closer have ushered in the golden age of our relations."