Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Tuesday morning paid his last respects to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was assassinated in Nara City in Western Japan last July 8 while delivering a campaign speech.
Romualdez, House Majority Leader in the 18th Congress, personally visited the official residence of Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko to pay tribute to Abe whom he called “a dear friend of the Filipino people.”
He offered again his condolences and sympathies to Abe’s wife, Mrs. Akie Abe; as well as relatives of the late Japanese leader, the Japanese government, and the people of Japan.
“With the deepest and most profound condolences and prayers, we mourn the loss and sudden passing of a great leader and true friend,” Romualdez wrote in the official condolence book.
Romualdez also cited Abe’s love, compassion and kindness for Filipinos and his huge role in making the alliance and people-to-people ties of the Philippines and Japan stronger.
Abe, 67, was shot from behind in broad daylight by a lone gunman. He died five hours later while being given medical attention at the hospital.
Earlier, Romualdez mourned Abe’s death, saying “the world has lost a kind and decent man, a great leader and a statesman.”
“I join the country of Japan and the Filipino nation in mourning the death of the beloved leader,” Romualdez said.
“We send our collective wish across the sea that justice be served to his family and to the Japanese people. This senseless act of violence must be condemned,” Romualdez said.
“Shinzo Abe is a dear friend of the Filipino people, and we are saddened by this dastardly attack on such a peaceful man. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and the people of Japan,” Romualdez said.