Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a resolution expressing profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated at a political rally in Japan earlier this month.
Lapid filed the resolution last July 12, honoring the life and legacy of Abe, the longest-serving prime minister in Japan’s history after serving for almost nine (9) years as such, and the youngest to be elected Japanese premier in 2006.
“Ikinalukungkot ko ang pagkawala ng isa sa mga pinaka-maimpluwensya at iginagalang na lider sa buong mundo na si dating PM Abe ( I am saddened by the passing of one of the most influential and respected leader in the whole world, former prime minister Abe),” Lapid said in a statement.
“Alam kong kasama ko sa pagdadalamhati ang mga Pilipino na nakakakilala kay PM Abe, at ang mga lider ng ibang bansa na nakadaupang palad nya rin noong sya ay nabubuhay pa (I am one with the all Filipinos who knows Abe, and the world leaders who were able to meet him whenhe was still alive),” he further said.
Lapid, in his resolution, noted that during Abe’s tenure, “Japan became the second largest trading partner of the Philippines, with about $7.3-billion imports in 2006.”
During this same time, the Philippines also started to export products to Japan like woodcraft furniture, electronic products, ignition wiring sets, fresh bananas, and iron ores.
In 2020, during PM Abe’s second tenure, Japan became the first donor-country to offer a loan to the Philippines to address the Covid-19 pandemic, where the Philippines received a P23.5-billion loan.
“Umaasa ako na bagamat wala na si dating PM Shinzo Abe ay mananatili ang mayabong na ugnayan ng Pilipinas at ng Japan sa mga usaping ekonomiya at pangkapayapaan (I hope that even though the former prime minister is no longer with us, the Philippines and Japan’s economic and peaceful relationship will continue to thrive,” he said.
“Kaya marapat lang na tayo sa Senado ay magpaabot ng ating pormal na pakikiramay sa pamilya ni PM Abe at sa lahat ng mamamayan ng Japan na nagdadalamhati rin ngayon (That’s why we deemed it fit to formally condole with the family of Abe here in the Senate and join the Japanese citizens in mourning for him),” Lapid stressed.