MANILA — Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, as well as the European Union (EU), extended condolences to the family of former Senate President Edgardo Angara, who passed away at 83 Sunday.
During his rotational visit to communities razed by fire, SAP Go told reporters that he saw the remains of the late legislator being airlifted at the Villamor Airbase.
Photos at the airbase circulating in the media showed SAP sympathizing with Angara’s mourning daughter, and wife Gloria Manalang-Angara.
“Kanina po, nagkamali ng landing yung helicopter na nagdala ng katawan ni former Senator Angara, nag-landing sila doon sa presidential air wing instead doon sa grandstand,” he narrated.
“Naabutan ko po doon, sumakay nalang ako at sumama sa Villamor, doon po ay sinalubong siya ng kanyang maybahay at eldest daughter, nakatabi ko pa yung katawan niya,” he said in an interview.
Go said he informed President Rodrigo Duterte himself about the senior Angara’s demise. He then relayed the Chief Executive’s condolences to the late senator’s family.
“Actually po nasabi ko na po sa kaniya kanina at naiparating ko na po kay Ginang Angara ang pakikiramay ni Pangulong Duterte at sa kaniyang anak kanina, naibulong ko na po noong nag-landing po iyong helicopter,” he said.
Angara, who served as senator from 1987 to 1995 and from 2001 to 2013, was appointed by Duterte as special envoy to the European Union in May 2017.
Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen, in a statement, also sent his sympathies to the bereaved family.
“I am saddened to hear that Senator Ed Angara, a statesman and a good friend, has passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,” he said.
“Ed was a great patriot and a true friend of the EU,” he ended.
Senator Sonny Angara, in his Twitter account said, “Sad to say my father former Sen Edgardo Javier Angara passed on from this life this morning at the age of 83, from an apparent heart attack.”
Former Senator Angara’s wake will be open to the public on Monday, May 14 at 2 p.m., Chapel 6-9, Heritage Park, Taguig City. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
