By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Oct. 30 (PNA) – Malacanang on Friday joined the nation in mourning the death of former Senator Ernesto ‘Boy’ Herrera.
”We join the nation in mourning the death of former Senator Ernesto “Boy” Herrera. He served the country with distinction as a legislator, trade union leader and as a human right advocate for which he also received international recognition,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Hermino Coloma Jr. said in a press statement.
”He will also be remembered as one of those who took a stand for restoring democracy in our land,” Coloma added.
Herrera, a former trade union leader, died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at the Manila Doctors Hospital. He was 73.
Senate President Franklin Drilon also grieved the passing of his friend and former colleague whom he described as a tireless crusader for the welfare of the Filipino worker.
”I have known Boy for decades and I witnessed how committed he was in fighting for the cause, rights and welfare of millions of our workers. He was a giant of Philippine labor. Our country’s workers have lost a champion,” Drilon said.
”I am proud to have worked and shared the Senate floor with such a principled and distinguished public servant. He will remain an inspiration to all of us,” he added.
Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos expressed condolences to the family of Herrera.
”We have lost a strong pillar of the labor sector, who took it as his mission in life to champion the causes, rights and welfare of Filipino workers. He was also a tireless and courageous crusader against the drug menace,” Marcos said.
”We are indebted to him for his service to our country. We owe it to him to pursue the trail he blazed for us, particularly in improving the lot of our Filipino workers,” the senator from Ilocos Norte added.
Herrera served as senator for two terms in 1987 and 1992 and as general secretary and president of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
Herrera was the second senator died in one month after Senator Joker Arroyo succumbed reportedly to heart failure last October 5 while in the United States. He was 88. (PNA)