Palace mourns passing of ex-Foreign Secretary Siazon

Malacañang is mourning the death of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon.

“We pause in tribute to Domingo Siazon, former secretary of foreign affairs (1995-2001) and Philippine ambassador to Japan (1993-1995 and 2001-2010),” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Respected by his colleagues in the foreign service, his peers abroad, and by presidents and the public alike, he belonged to the second generation of career diplomats who served with professionalism and who rose according to merit,” he added.

Lacierda called Siazon, who served under former President Joseph Estrada’s Cabinet, “a cultured, urbane man.”

He said the secretary left behind a record of “distinguished service” to the country and that he had brought honor to the Philippine flag wherever he served.

“We extend deepest sympathies to his family at this time of profound loss,” Lacierda said.

Siazon’s son Dan posted on Facebook early Wednesday that his 77-year-old father had passed away. He said his father was a “statesman, career diplomat, but more importantly, a loving husband, father and grandfather.”