Senator Koko Pimentel mourned the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe whom he said paved the way for invigorated and strong relations between the Philippines and Japan.
“I am deeply shocked to hear the news about the senseless attack on former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. As Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister, I personally witnessed his dedication not only in serving the people of Japan but the people of all other nations including the Philippines. It is for this reason that as former Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I led the adoption of Senate Resolution 525 commending PM Abe for his significant contribution in strengthening relations between Japan and the Philippines,” Pimentel said in a statement.
Pimentel condoled with Abe’s family as he urged the Senate to pass a resolution honoring the murdered former Japanese leader for forging strong ties between the Philippines and Japan.
Abe died on Friday, July 8, after reportedly succumbing to injuries from a gunshot wound sustained during a campaign speech in Nara, Japan.
Pimentel also called on Filipinos to pray for Abe’s repose as he described the assassinated Japanese leader as a “great friend of Filipinos.”
“I join the people of all nations in praying for the eternal repose of his soul even as we all try to make sense of how a man of peace and a man who spent his whole life making the world a better place can become a victim of this senseless act of violence. The world has lost a great man and Filipinos lost a great friend.”
Pimentel condoled with Abe’s family as he urged the Senate to pass a resolution honoring the murdered former Japanese leader for forging strong ties between the Philippines and Japan.
“I pray that our God Almighty will provide comfort to PM Abe’s family, friends, and the people of Japan as I urge the Philippine Senate to pass another resolution thanking PM Abe for his invaluable help to our nation. This is the least we can do to honor him as a friend to all Filipinos,” he said.
