PNoy visits wake of Sec. De Lima’s dad

By Analiza S. Macatangay

IRIGA CITY, Aug 3 (PIA) -- President Benigno Aquino III visited the wake of late Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Atty. Vicente Bagaporo De Lima, Sr. at the family residence in Brgy. San Agustin, here.

He is the father of current Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

The President landed at the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) grounds around 10:30 a.m. and motored towards the wake site.

Aquino condoled with the family of the late commissioner who died of colon cancer after submitting himself to an operation last year. He refused to push further treatment. He was 81.

In an interview, Secretary Leila de Lima expressed her gratitude to President Noynoy for personally taking his time to express his deepest condolences to the demise of his father.

“I love my father so much. I know it’s time to let him go. He is now at peace. Now, I find solace in the thought that so many people loved him. So, to all those who conveyed their prayers, to the members of the cabinet, and most especially to our President, who took their time to come here and pay their last respect to my father, my sincerest gratitude,” De Lima said.

De Lima Sr. served first as Comelec executive director then as commissioner from 1992 to 1995 under the chairmanship of Christian Monsod, during the presidency of the late Corazon C . Aquino.

He was also a member of the Camarines Sur Provincial Board and a veteran lawyer.

De Lima Sr. is survived by spouse Norma, children Leila, Vicente Jr., Caroline and Vicente II. He also left three grandchildren: Israel, Vincent Joshua and Vicente Marcel.

The internment will be on August 4 at Fatima Catholic Cemetery in Iriga City.

The President’s team proceeded to Pio Duran, Albay to also pay his last respects to PFC Arwin Martirez. He was one of the soldiers killed in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan last July 26, this year. (MAL/LSMacatangay-PIA5, Camarines Sur)