Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) shakes hand with then Philippine President S. Benigno Aquino III (right) during the latter’s visit to Singapore in 2014.
MANILA, Philippines — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore on Friday expressed sadness over the passing of former President Benigno S. Aquino III, saying his death is a “great loss to the Philippines.”
“My heart goes out to his family, and to the Filipino people. His passing is a great loss to the Philippines,” Lee said in a statement.
In mourning Aquino’s demise, Lee recalled meeting the late leader “many times over the years,” including the latter’s visit to Singapore in 2014.
“We worked together to strengthen the ties between our two countries, and to advance regional cooperation in ASEAN and APEC,” Lee added.
The Singaporean leader hailed Aquino’s “illustrious public service,” noting the former president’s stints in both houses of Congress before eventually becoming president.
“He felt a strong obligation to serve, especially due to his family history – both his parents were prominent political icons in the country,” Lee also said.
Aquino was the only son former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon C. Aquino.
“As President, he brought stability and rapid economic progress to the Philippines, and pursued policies that improved the lives and well-being of his fellow countrymen,” Lee went on.
Back in the Philippines, the ambassadors of India and Japan joined other envoys in the country in conveying their condolences on the death of Aquino.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa remembered Aquino for his “huge contribution” to the relations between the two nations.
“My deepest condolences on the demise of former President Benigno S. Aquino III. We will always remember and cherish his huge contribution to our bilateral relations. May the family and Filipino find comfort in their many memories,” the ambassador said.
My deepest condolences on the demise of former President Benigno S. Aquino III. We will always remember and cherish his huge contribution to our bilateral relations. May the family and Filipino find comfort in their many memories.
— Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) June 25, 2021
In a tweet, the Indian Embassy in Manila shared a photo of Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran signing the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) official condolence book.
Ambassador signed the official Condolence Book at the Department of Foreign Affairs to convey our deepest condolences at the passing away of former President of the Philippines Mr. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ S. Aquino III. pic.twitter.com/ptV3EH5kM7
— India in Philippines (@indembmanila) June 25, 2021
“Ambassador [Kumaran] signed the official Condolence Book at the Department of Foreign Affairs to convey our deepest condolences at the passing away of former President of the Philippines Mr. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ S. Aquino III,” the embassy said.