House honors JDV with plenary hall rites

The House of Representatives is set to hold a formal memorial service Monday to honor former Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr., celebrating the legacy of the only lawmaker to lead the chamber for five terms.

The necrological service will begin at 10 a.m. at the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Pambansa. Under the leadership of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, current and former lawmakers will gather to pay tribute to the statesman, widely known as “JDV,” who died 10 February at the age of 89.

The program will feature eulogies from the country’s top political figures, reflecting De Venecia’s influence across several administrations. Dy will lead the tributes, followed by former President and current Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and former Senate President Manuel B. Villar Jr.

International dignitaries, including Hon. Chung Eui-yong and Hon. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, are also scheduled to deliver tributes, acknowledging De Venecia’s work in Asian parliamentary cooperation and interfaith dialogue.

Meantime, Vice President Sara Duterte visited the wake Sunday morning at the Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Dagupan City while Arroyo, who also visited the wake earlier in the week in Taguig, made a second appearance Sunday to honor her former colleague.

The House formally adopted Resolution No. 758 to recognize De Venecia’s historic role in the 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Congresses. The resolution honors him as an “architect of political stability” for forging the “Rainbow Coalition,” a multi-party alliance that facilitated the passage of more than 200 economic and social reform laws under the Ramos administration.

Key legislative milestones to be highlighted during the service include the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, the New Central Bank Act and the Philippine Economic Zone Act.

The memorial will include the presentation of legislative memorabilia and a video chronicle of De Venecia’s seven terms in the House. His wife, Representative Ma. Georgina Vera Perez-de Venecia, will deliver the family’s response.

Following a memorial Mass in Manaoag, Pangasinan, early Monday morning, the former speaker’s remains will be received at the House with full honors.