Vice Governor Rene Relampagos and Cong. Edgar Chatto paid tribute to the former president of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon “PNoy”Aquino III, after the announcement of the latter’s passing on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City. Aquino died due to renal disease secondary to diabetes, reports say.
In his official statement issued via his Facebook page, Relampagos said he is one with the country in mourning the death of the former president.
For his part, Chatto posted a tribute to the late former president in his own official Facebook page.
According to Relampagos, he was the Representative of the First Congressional District of the Province of Bohol during Aquino’s time in office.
“During my term in Congress, we crafted and passed laws that greatly benefited the beloved people. A good number of these laws were landmark legislation that we continuously enjoy to this day and for generations to come. I remember him most for fervently championing good governance as he served the nation tirelessly towards transparency and accountability. His unwavering passion for serving the Filipino people was his utmost motivation,” Relampagos said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Chatto was governor of Bohol during the tenure of the late President Aquino. Aquino worked hard to help Bohol get back on its feet following the terrible effects of the 2013 earthquake.
“President Noynoy was a true friend to Bohol. He celebrated our victories and supported us when we were at our lowest. When the earthquake hit us in October 2013, President Noynoy immediately came to Bohol to oversee the search, rescue and relief operations. He was widely known to have slept in a tent in Loon and experienced the aftershocks with the rest of us. That same night we talked about the damage caused by the earthquake and he ordered his Cabinet to ensure that government quickly responds to the needs of the Boholanos,” Chatto said in his post.
The solon added:” In the aftermath [of the earthquake], President Noynoy made sure that Bohol had a direct line to Malacañang as we made our way to recovery. He approved the funding for the Bohol Earthquake Rehabilitation Plan to help us rise from the rubble and do so quickly. Across the province, numerous city, municipal and barangay halls, public market, health care centers, educational facilities, and road networks were rehabilitated or reconstructed. He also gave us our New Bohol Provincial Capitol and the Bohol branch of the National Museum. Significantly, as we have recently seen, it was through the strong support of President Noynoy that we were able to rebuild our grand heritage churches and cultural assets. This is over and above the regular programs of the national government.”
The veteran lawmaker further quipped: “His [Aquino] leadership helped bring back Bohol as we see it today, maybe even better than it was before. For this and many other things, we thank President Noynoy. “
PNoy was the country’s 15th president serving from 2010 to 2016. He was honored early in his administration for battling corruption and stabilizing the country’s faltering economy.
As president, he signed into law various legislative measures that became landmark laws enjoyed by the Filipinos up to the present. Some of these laws are: the Sin Tax Reform Act, Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, The Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act, The Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, The Domestic Workers Act of Batas Kasambahay, the AFP Modernization Act, The National Health Insurance Act of 2013, and The National Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013.