MANILA – House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez honored the late Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Wednesday (05 Feb 2025) during a necrological service at the House of Representatives Plenary Hall, calling him “a true statesman” committed to democracy, human rights, and progressive legislation.
In his eulogy, Romualdez described Lagman as a man of conviction, steadfast in his principles and unafraid to stand alone in the pursuit of justice and governance for the marginalized.
“To speak of Edcel Lagman is to speak of a statesman in the truest sense,” Romualdez said, emphasizing Lagman’s legacy of advocacy for human rights, reproductive health, and good governance.
Romualdez highlighted Lagman’s pivotal contributions to landmark laws, including the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, the abolition of the death penalty, and the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act. Despite the challenges these reforms faced, Lagman’s dedication to uplifting the forgotten was unwavering.
“Edcel was more than his legislative achievements,” Romualdez remarked. “He was a mentor, a fierce yet respectful adversary, and a defender of democracy through dialogue and dissent.”
Romualdez further reflected on the values that Lagman embodied: debating fiercely but fairly, disagreeing without dehumanizing, and holding true to principles in the face of power. He urged fellow lawmakers to emulate Lagman’s example of integrity and public service.
Concluding his tribute, Romualdez assured Lagman’s family that his impact would persist through the laws he championed and the principles he upheld. “Edcel Lagman does not belong to the past. His work, his words, and his wisdom belong to the future,” he said.
ia/mnm