House holds necrological service for Zambales Rep. Diaz

The House of Representatives held on Thursday a necrological service for one of its members, Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz, who passed away on Wednesday. Diaz’s flag-draped casket was brought to the plenary hall of the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City at around 10 a.m. Thursday. House members also postponed committee hearings to attend the necrological service at the plenary hall. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. expressed his condolences to Diaz’s bereaved family, describing the deceased lawmaker as "one of the veterans of the House." "The House of Representatives deeply regrets this. We are very unhappy and we condole with the family and the constituents of Congressman Diaz," he said. "This necrological service is a very small thing compared to the many years Congressman Diaz has served in the House," he added. Diaz, 83, died of multiple organ failure secondary to sepsis and pneumonia at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday. He was a representative of Zambales' second district from 1992 to 2001. He was reelected to the same post in the 2004, 2007 and 2010 elections. Diaz was survived by four children: Ramon Victor, Roderick Albert, Roberto Carlos and Rica Victoria. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News