Pumanaw na ang dating Speaker na si Jose de Venecia Jr. nitong Martes, Pebrero 10, sa edad 89, batay sa anunsyo ng kaniyang pamilya.
“With heavy hearts, our family announces the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and patriarch, former Speaker of the House Jose C. de Venecia Jr.,” saad ng pamilya De Venecia sa isang pahayag.
“For more than six decades, Speaker de Venecia devoted his life to public service — as journalist, diplomat, entrepreneur, legislator, Speaker of the House, and global advocate for peace. 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,” dagdag pa nila.
Sinabi ng pamilya na iaanunsyo sa lalong madaling panahon ang mga detalye ng burol at libing.
Nag-post din si Pangasinan Representative Gina de Venecia sa Facebook ng larawan ng kaniyang asawa kasama ang petsa ng kapanganakan nito, Disyembre 26, 1935, at petsa ng kamatayan.
Naglingkod si De Venecia bilang miyembro ng Kamara sa loob ng pitong termino at kumatawan sa kaniyang bayan sa Pangasinan. Naglingkod siya bilang Speaker ng Kamara sa lima ng kaniyang pitong termino.
Siya rin ang pangunahing may-akda ng Dollar Remittance Program, ang Bases Conversion and Development Act, ang Build-Operate-Transfer Law, ang Philippine Economic Zone Act, at ang New Central Bank Act.
“He championed landmark legislation that transformed the Philippine economy, strengthened democratic institutions, and uplifted millions of Filipino families, including overseas workers,” saad ng pamilya.
Nagbigay-pugay din ang dating Speaker at Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president na si Martin Romualdez sa kaniyang kaalyado at matagal nang haligi ng partido, na inilarawan si De Venecia bilang “a man of brilliance, courage, and compassion” na nakatulong sa paghubog ng bansa.
“Under his steady hand, Congress became a workshop of reforms and a sanctuary of consensus. His vision for a Rainbow Coalition was revolutionary at the time—and yet, it worked, because he made it work. It was his gift: to bring people together across ideologies, faiths, and even continents,” sabi ni Romualdez sa isang hiwalay na pahayag. —VBL GMA Integrated News
