Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe passed away after he was shot while delivering a campaign speech in Nara, Japan on Friday morning, July 8. He was 67.
The death of Abe was confirmed by officials of the Nara Medical University where the former prime minister was rushed after sustaining two gunshot wounds and chest damage. His heart was also hit.
Rest in peace, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The longest-serving Japanese prime minister, 67, passed away on Friday afternoon, July 8, after he was shot from behind while delivering his speech in Nara.
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Doctors said he suffered cardiopulmonary arrest while being rushed to the health facility. They tried to revive him for more than four hours, and conducted surgery and blood transfusion.
Abe was declared dead at around 5:00 p.m. due to severe blood loss and a wound to his heart.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno initially said that a 41-year-old male, now under the custody of authorities, is the suspect for the fatal shooting.
“Outrageous acts of this kind are absolutely intolerable, no matter the reason, and I strongly condemn this act. The Government will take all possible measures to respond to this situation,” he said.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) extended its condolences to Japan.
“It is with profound sadness that we learn of the passing of former PM ABE Shinzo. We express our deepest condolences to the Japanese government and people on his tragic death. We send our most heartfelt sympathy to Mme Akie Abe and their family. We pray for their comfort in this most difficult time,” it stated.
The DFA said Abe was “greatly admired by many Filipinos,” and that he will be “very much missed and always remembered.”
“We thank him for his key role in the strengthening of Philippines-Japan relations and for establishing a very deep bond of friendship with our country,” he said. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio-ag
