House colleagues pay last respects to late Kabayan Rep. Calalang

Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday paid their last respects to Kabayan party-list Representative Ciriaco Calalang, who died of massive stroke at the age of 67.

A mass and necrological services were held at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives for the late legislator, attended by some of his colleagues and family members.

Calalang passed away on September 23, days after he underwent surgery at the De Los Santos Medical Center in Quezon City.

He is survived by his three adopted children.

In her eulogy, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo fondly recalled her short time working with Calalang, especially for the rights of children.

She added that over one breakfast, Calalang told her that he wanted to focus on the Committee on Justice.

"Ang nahalata ko kay Cong. Calalang hindi masyado maingay, tahimik, humble and I can sense how he wanted to do so much in the short time we had remaining in this Congress. It turned out that he had even less time than remaining time of this 17th Congress," Arroyo said.

"Congressman Acoy, you have done so much, not only in loving your children but also in protecting the rights of all children. You have done so much, not only in your practice of law but also in lawmaking," she added.

Fellow Kabayan party-list Representative Ron Salo, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, BUHAY party-list Representative Lito Atienza, and Senior Citizen party-list Representative Francisco Datol Jr. also delivered their respective eulogies.

A law professor and taxation lawyer by profession, Calalang was sworn into office in January this year after former Kabayan party-list Representative Harry Roque was appointed presidential spokesperson.

The fourth nominee of KABAYAN party-list will take over the position Calalang left. —JST, GMA News