MANILA — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III led national leaders in honoring the memory of former Northern Samar 1st District Representative Raul Daza, remembering him as an exemplary statesman and committed public servant whose career spanned over fifty years.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 16, Dy expressed the lower chamber’s deepest sympathies to the family, loved ones, and constituents of the late lawmaker.
“Sa mahigit limang dekada ng paglilingkod, kabilang ang pitong termino sa Kamara at tatlong termino bilang Gobernador ng Northern Samar, ipinakita niya ang kanyang malasakit sa kapwa at matibay na paninindigan para sa demokrasya, katarungan, at kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino,” Dy stated.
The House leader acknowledged Daza’s extensive contributions, which included serving seven terms in the House of Representatives and three terms as provincial governor.
“Sa ngalan ng buong Kapulungan, ipinaaabot ko ang aming taos-pusong pakikiramay sa kanyang pamilya, mga kaibigan, mga mahal sa buhay, at sa mga mamamayan ng Northern Samar,” he added, closing with a message of gratitude.
“Maraming salamat po, Congressman Raul Daza, sa inyong tapat at makabuluhang paglilingkod sa bayan. Nawa’y makamtam ninyo ang walang hanggang kapayapaan sa piling ng ating Panginoon.”
Meanwhile, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima shared personal reflections, remembering her fellow Liberal Party member as a steadfast champion of democracy and a paternal mentor who stood by her during her imprisonment.
“Sa panahon ng aking di-makatarungang pagkakulong, hindi siya nakalimot. Bukod sa makailang beses siyang personal na bumisita sa akin, regular din siyang nangumusta, nagpadala ng mga libro, at mga sulat – nagpayo, nagsilbing gabay at nagpatatag ng aking loob na magpatuloy sa laban,” De Lima noted in a separate statement on Friday.
De Lima praised Daza’s unyielding integrity and steadfast loyalty to public service throughout his decades-long tenure.
“Higit sa pagiging maaasahang kapartido, tapat siya sa pagsisilbi sa ating mga kababayan. Sa mahabang panahon ng kanyang paglilingkod, nanatili ang kanyang integridad, malasakit at matapang na paninindigan,” she said, before offering her final farewell.
“Sa ngalan po ng Liberal Party at ML Partylist, maraming, maraming salamat po! Rest in power, Manong Raul.”