Senate honors Sotero Laurel

The Senate on Thursday afternoon honored the late Senator Sotero Laurel in a necrological service at the session hall. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri handed to the Laurel family Resolution 204 expressing the Senate’s profound sympathy and sincere condolence on the death of its former member. "The demise of Senator Laurel is a great loss not only to his family but also to the Filipino people," the resolution read. The resolution noted that Laurel died on September 16, exactly 18 years from the day the Senate rejected the Treaty of Friendship, Economic Cooperation and Security with the United States of America. It also said Laurel, as a member of the “Magnificent 12" who voted against the renewal of the RP-US military bases agreement, had "fearlessly argued that fairness, justice, self determination, independence, self-respect and equality are values that cannot be measured in terms of money." Before that, eulogies were delivered by former Senate President Jovito Salonga, former Senator Sergio Osmeña III, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Manuel Roxas II. Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal meanwhile read the eulogy of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is undergoing eye operation. Also present in the service were members of Laurel's family led by his widow Lorna, former Senate President Franklin Drilon, former senators Ernesto Herrera, John Henry Osmeña, Senators Edgardo Angara and Loren Legarda. Laurel, 90, passed away Wednesday morning due to lingering illness. His casket arrived at the Senate building in Pasay City around 2:30 in the afternoon. - GMANews.TV