House mourns passing of Raul Daza

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is mourning the passing of former speaker pro tempore Raul Daza, whom Speaker Faustino Dy III described as a respected lawmaker and an honest public servant. 

Dy honored Daza’s five decades of public service, wherein the late lawmaker showed compassion to people and committed to uphold democracy, justice and public welfare. 

Daza died at the age of 91. The House will hold necrological services on Monday.

Daza served the chamber for seven non-consecutive terms between 1969 and 2019, and as speaker pro tempore from 1992 to 1998. He was governor of Northern Samar from 2001 to 2010.

Daza was deputy minister of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, which pursued the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth. 

According to his family, Daza will leave a “legacy of integrity, courage, humility, empathy and commitment to democracy.”

“He did not only excel in his fields of interest, being a bar topnotcher and a certified public accountant, but had fought for democracy during the darkest hours of the country,” the family said.

Daza’s grandson, Niko Raul, is the incumbent congressman of the first district of Northern Samar.

The post was formerly held by Daza’s son, Paul Daza.