Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 11, sent her condolences to the Japanese government and people for the demise of the country’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and condemned what she called the “senseless violence” that led to it.
In a Facebook post, Duterte shared that she visited the official residence of Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko to personally convey her sympathy over Abe’s death.
“Ang pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga ng dating Prime Minister sa Pilipinas ay hinding-hindi natin makakalimutan (We will never forget the former prime minister’s love and concern for the Philippines),” she wrote.
The Vice President shared a photo of the message she wrote on the condolence book in Kazuhiko’s residence.
“My profound condolences to his bereaved family and the people of Japan who are grieving over his untimely demise,” the message read.
“I join the Filipino people in condemning the senseless act of violence that claimed the life of a great leader. While words might be of little solace at this time, kindly allow me to express my sincerest appreciation for his significant and impactful contributions in bringing our countries even closer,” Duterte wrote.
The lady official remembered the slain prime minister for “his love and kindness for the Filipinos and Davao City.” Then Prime Minister Abe visited then President Duterte’s home in Davao City during a visit to the country in January 2017. He was the first head of state to visit the country during Duterte’s administration.
The Japanese leader, who served from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020, died in hospital on Friday, July 8, after being shot twice while giving a speech during a political event in Nara, central Japan.
His death shocked a nation not used to gun violence, and condolences poured from all over the world for Japan’s most influential political voice.
Despite stepping down from power in 2020, Abe was a towering political presence in Japan, often setting the agenda for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also mourned over Abe’s death.
The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines also announced that a Book of Condolence for Abe will be available at its office in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City from July 11-12.