MANILA, Philippines – Pumanaw na si dating House Speaker Jose C. De Venecia, Jr. ngayong araw sa edad na 89 taong gulang.
Naulila ni De Venecia ang maybahay na si Pangasinan Rep. Gina De Venecia at mga anak na sina Christopher, Joey, Leslie Norton, Kristina Casimira Perez, Vivian Garcia, at Alexandra Haner.
Si de Venecia ay ipinanganak noong Dec. 31, 1936 sa Dagupan City at lider ng Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats (CMD).
Sa isang pahayag na nagmula sa pamilya, nakasaad dito na ang dating speaker ay patuloy na nagsusulong ng kapayapaan para sa bansa.
“As we mourn his passing, we give thanks for a life that helped shape the Philippine Republic — and for a legacy that endures in our laws, our institutions, and our continuing pursuit of peace.”
Ayon pa sa pahayag, sa loob ng anim na dekada ay binuhos ni de Venecia ang kaniyang panahon sa serbisyo – publiko bilang journalist, diplomat, entrepreneur, legislator, Speaker of the House, at global advocate for peace.
“He served seven terms in the House of Representatives, five of them as Speaker — the longest-serving Speaker in the postwar Congress — during which he championed landmark legislation that transformed the Philippine economy, strengthened democratic institutions, and uplifted millions of Filipino families, including overseas workers.”
Pangunahing panukala ni De Venecia bilang mambabatas at naging ganap na batas ang Dollar Remittance Program, Bases Conversion and Development Act, Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Philippine Economic Zone Act, at ang New Central Bank Act.
Kabilang naman sa aktibong pakikilahok nito sa kapayapaan ay ang makasaysayang kasunduan sa RAM-AFP-YOU noong 1995 at sa Moro National Liberation Front noong 1996.
Sa ngayon ay isinasaayos na ang lamay maging ang posibleng paglagakan ng mga labi ng isa sa pinakamahabang nanungkulan bilang speaker sa bansa.
Si dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez ay nagpaabot din ng kaniyang pakikidalamhati sa pamilya ng yumaong dating kongresista.
“Today, we mourn the passing of one of the greatest pillars of Philippine democracy and the political father of Lakas-CMD, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.—a man whose brilliance, courage, and compassion helped shape the soul of our nation,” sinabi ni Romualdez.
Tinawag naman ni Romualdez si De Venecia hindi lamang public servant kundi isang “statesman” na syang halagi ng demokrasya ng bansa.
“He possessed the rare gift of seeing far beyond the horizon, and even rarer, the wisdom to bring others with him. As one of the founding fathers of Lakas—then popularly known as Lakas-NUCD—he helped build not just a political party, but a national movement rooted in unity, peace, and inclusive leadership” ani Romualdez.
Sinabi ni Romualdez na habambuhay niyang kikilalanin ang kabaitan ni de Venecia.
“I will forever be grateful for his kindness, guidance, and quiet encouragement over the years. He was generous with his wisdom, gracious in victory, and dignified in all seasons of public life. To me and to many in our party, he was a mentor, a statesman, and a father figure. His passing is deeply personal” pahayag ni Romualdez.
Samantala, nagparating na rin ng pakikiramay ang Young Guns ng Kamara sa pamilya ng yumaong dating Speaker De Venecia.
“Our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Rep. Georgina Vera-Perez De Venecia (Pangasinan), to the entire De Venecia family – especially former Rep. Christopher De Venecia and all his grandchildren – and to the people of Pangasinan and Dagupan City who have lost their most illustrious son and steadfast champion.”
Kinilala at inalala ng Young Guns si De Venecia bilang pinakamahaba at may pinakamatagal na ipinagsilbi bilang speaker ng Kamara
Kabilang sa Young Guns sina Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega, Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun at Congressman Zia Alonto Adiong. (Meliza Maluntag / Gail Mendoza)
