My condolence to former senator Rene Saguisag and his family for the loss of Dulce in a tragic vehicular accident in the early hours of yesterday.
My most memorable coverage of Rene and Dulce was the downfall of President Joseph Estrada in January 20, 2001. We were there since afternoon of January 19 and we were monitoring, how one by one, starting with then Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Estrada’s cabinet members and friends were abandoning him.
Late morning of Jan. 20, Rene and Dulce came out of Malacañang Palace compound. It was obvious they had had a long night. Rene said they had to go home because Dulce, a cancer survivor, needed rest.
Dulce, who was the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, denied a report on TV that she was among those who resigned. Rene said it is not in their nature to be just fair-weather friends.
This is a portion of my Jan. 22, 2001 column entitled “Weeping alone” on that emotional day in Malacañang:
“In the lonely hours of former President Estrada in Malacañang Saturday morning, lawyer Rene Saguisag recalled a quote that Dick Gordon shared with him when he lost the bitter fight for him to continue being chairman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority during the Estrada administration.
“The quote was ‘The world laughs with you weep alone.’
“Saguisag, who had lawyered for Gordon in that acrimonious case was, together with his wife, Dulce, one of the few who stuck with Estrada in his last hours in Malacañang when one by one officials of his administration and friends were abandoning him to be with the politically convenient side…
“At the time when the ‘in’ thing was to be at Edsa and to denounce Estrada, it takes courage to be with the losing side, To me, it shows strength of character.
“This has nothing to do with whether Estrada was guilty of the charges contained in the articles of impeachment but you don’t abandon a person whom you have benefited from in his hour of need.
“Saguisag said from now on, he will ‘kiss the ground’ that Gregorio Vigilar, outgoing public works secretary, walks. Vigilar, a former military officer was a carry-over from the Ramos administration.
Despite calls by Ramos for his ‘men’ in the Estrada cabinet to jump from a sinking ship, he stayed on.
“On his way out of Malacañang, after a touching farewell with Estrada, I asked Vigilar why he stayed on. His answer was simple: ‘You don’t abandon a friend in need.’”
Aside from helping the oppressed, another of Rene and Dulce’s passion is ballroom dancing. That’s where they had come from when they met the accident.
Rene was supposed to be at the sala of Judge Oscar Pimentel at Makati Regional Trial Court yesterday morning for the trial of Magdalo officers in connection with the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny. I think Rene handles the cases of four officers.
He was missed yesterday.
Rene’s latest medical bulletin said his condition has improved. He still doesn’t know what happened to Dulce.
From the outpouring of support and prayers for them, Rene and Dulce would be happy to know they are not weeping alone.
Condolence to the family of Atty. Rene Saguisag and my prayers for his fast recovery, and also for those hurt in the accident. The country needs a lawyer and rights fighter like Atty Saguisag.
I will pray for Rene before I go to sleep tonight.
LET US ALL PRAY FOR THE IMMEDIATE RECOVERY OF ATTY RENE SAGUISAG, A LOT OF OPPRESSED PEOPLE NEED YOU. CONDOLENCE FOR THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF MRS. DULCE.
My sympathy to Rene Saguisag.
blackdiamond, i join you.
to Dulce: http://www.passionup.com/fun/fun497.htm
This experience is sad indeed for Rene Saguisag and family. They need comforting words.
How sad naman that Rene does not know yet that his wife passed away in the accident. My prayers are with Rene and his family through this difficult time. May he pull through from this trying tragedy.
I believe in the same honour principle: “‘You don’t abandon a friend in need.’”
True friends are hard to find…
AdeBrux: Hello! Skoll, 1) Humble, 2) Smart and yet not obnoxious, 3) Picture of a man so secured of himself.
‘You don’t abandon a friend in need.’” These words should be sent to the so called some self proclaimed member of the Civil Societies. Users. if these are the type of people I would rub elbows with, would rather be part of the “Uncivil SocietY”.
Skoll
11/8/07
Ellen,
Do you think there is foul play in the accident of the Saguisag (Rene and Dulce). Of all people why the lawyer of the Magdalo Group. If the court of Gloria who will investagate this better believe it is her doing. Bastard, SOB.
Dandaw, that was my initial reaction too. But let us just concentrate on praying that Rene and his fmaily will heal first before anything else. The truth will always prevail no matter what.
I remember seeing Rene on tv just last week and he was lovingly proclaiming to the whole world that he was married to the prettiest lady in the world.
Such is life.Here today.Gone tomorrow.
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
(William Butler Yeats)
To Senator Rene Saguisag (one who truly deserved the office):
The dead will rest in peace. It is the living who must bear life without the loved one.
Although we grieve for your wife who passed away, we find comfort in her having passed by. It was a life well-lived; one with purpose, one meaningfully led.
And though we have not known her the way your family did, we know enough to recognize that she was loved; that she would be missed; that she will be remembered.
May you find comfort Sir, in the happy moments you shared. And may the memories strengthen you in the fight we know you will continue to wage – for what is right, for what is just. We know it is that part in you that she was most proud of – the part in you we most respect.
May the Lord comfort you in your sorrow.
I have such a hard regard for Rene and his wife, I was brought up to believe that such burdens were plaed upon good individuals so that others learned the lesson.
Helen, I tried to post this under “Feel na feel ang pagka-poor” but couldn’t that is:
Just a moment to give respect to the family of Marianette Amper, an 11 year old from Mindanao who committed suicide due to hunger and poverty not even the fare for transport to attend school. The government so far suggest teachers, parents, and even mentions mental illness although there is no evidence of this at all.
I have mentioned here in Ellensville that I witness young children walking to school in Mindanao without any breakfast because there’s no food on the table – not a word from these greedy congressmen moving around in a convoy of vehicles, security, and of course their fancy paper bags full of crisp bank notes, nor these Bishops. Its time for the government to wake up or the people will wake them up!
hard regard should read – high regard – sorrie
Look at yesterday’s violent stories. The Saguisags fell victims to a stupid driver. A 12-year-old girl ends her impoverished youth via suicide. Mangled body parts recovered over a wide area after Cavite townhouse blast.
All these could have been prevented. What a waste.
wwnl,
What do you know, Malacañang reacted to the news on Mariannette by calling for the fast-tracking of the Cyber-Ed Project. Ginamit pa ang pobreng bata.
Pù7áñg|ñå talaga!
I don’t know the Saguisags personally although I have heard of how Atty. Saguisag would come to the rescue of those who need help especially with the kind of injustice system the Filipinos have been forced to accept without complaint with a grain of a salt.
Hopefully, justice will be done and will prevail in this case of negligence resulting in death and injury. Indeed, when it comes to preserving life, no one can be negligent. Unfortunately, there is no assurance that policemen there will come up with error-free evidences with the kind of set up the police there have now in addition to policemen there being mostly immoral, ill-equipped and ill-trained.
As they say, “Death is but a dream.” To me, death is just a fleeting moment. Hopefully, Dulce Saguisag has lived a righteous life to merit a better place in the life hereafter. Yes, the body may have been destroyed by this tragic accident but we know that her spirit lives, and surely she will be resurrected someday.
I pray that Atty. Saguisag will recover fully and continue what he has been doing since–defending the oppressed and destitutes.
Very touching piece, atty36252.
Rene Saguisag: A portrait of a real Filipino fighter.
I remember him coming from nowhere at the time of Marcos as a human rights lawyer. I thought at that time that he was just another opportunist whose aim is to make the headlines, be a household name and use it as a capital in entering the world of politics. My belief was later reinforced when he became a candidate for senator and won a seat in the senate. And I said to myself:” A User”, thinking that he made an investment out of the people who were victims of martial law and made them his stepping stone to a government elected position. But my belief completely changed when he declined to be drafted for re-election. I sensed that he can not stomach the dirty wheeling and dealing of politics. Politics is not his world and he continued with his law practice rendering even free services for those who are victims of injustices. I realized that after all he really is real and sincere in what he loved to do, to help obtain justice for those who can not afford. I erred in my assessment of the man and I want to say I’m very sorry.
My message to him: Man you are a fighter, be strong and fight the biggest battle you have at hand. By the grace of God and prayers from those who love you you can beat it. The country needs you.
our deepest sympathy to senator rene saguisag and family!! a true leader and a true parliamentarian!! our prayers will be for the eternal peace of secretary (DSWD) dulce saguisag.
may God be with you always!!
Thank you TonGue
It has been said that there are two things that man cannot face the sun and his own death.
I know the pain they are facing now,These incident reminded me my loving elder brother,he too lost his life in a car accident.
Man cannot face the sun, but he must nevertheless face his own death, if lie is to live. He must accept death as a part of his life-as a prerequisite for his enjoyment of and formal acceptance of the full beauty and tragedy of life. Just as it is possible for the dying person to achieve acceptance of his own death and die in dignity, so too the living who are bereaved can, with help, be brought to accept a life in which death is an integral part. The challenge to us all: Where is our place in the continuum at any time?
My sincere condolence to Saguisag family.
My sincerest condolences to the Saguisag family.
My Sincerest condolence to Saguisag family and speedy recovery of Atty. Saguisag + the driver and friend.
sincerest condolence to the Saguisag family.
i saw the couple a lot at San Beda College functions … and I just have to admire their simplicity. modesty and sincerity.
praying for the speedy recovery of Atty. Saguisag. Our country definitely needs more of his breed of good men.
our deepest condolence to the saguisag family!
nagpakamatay si marianett ng davao dahil hindi na niya makayanan ang kahirapan (sabi ni gloria “maganda na ang ekonomiya ng bayan”} damdam ba eto ng mamamayan? may pagbabago ba sa buhay ng nakakaraming pilipino gaya ng pamilya ni marianett? eto naman si sira ulong sec of health duque nagpresscon at sinabing ” we take full responsibility of what happened? bakit siya ang nagsabi n’oon at hindi si unelected president gloria “tiyanak” arroyo na siyang nagpapatakbo ng gobiyerno. gma should take responsibility of what happened to this young girl.
ano kaya ang ibig sabihin ni duque sa kanyang we take full responsibility of what happened. kung serious siya, dapat ang kasunod niyan ay resignation na niya.
Kapag nasabon ni goria itong si duque for his statement, sasabihin nyan, misquoted lang siya. The cheating, the lying and the denying continues…..
Another victim of violence, this time from the gov’t. Alioden Dalaig was killed by a gunman’s bullets. I know the guy was one of the more dedicated people in Comelec. He headed the Legal Department and he impressed me as just and fair, characteristics we find wanting in many of the institutions today. He was responsible for making decisions favoring Pasay mayoralty candidate, Peewee Trinidad, refusing to be influenced by Trinidad’s opponents who are close to the FG.
My condolences to his family. May they get the justice they rightfully deserve.
Come to think of it, the names of Rene Saguisag and Alioden Dalaig are both in the shortlist supposedly given by Ermita to the Comelec. Which Ermita denies.
Was it a shortlist of Commissioner-candidates or a demolition job hitlist?
Oh my God!
This is news that Tongue broke:
Lawyer Alioden Dalaig, head of the legal department of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), was shot dead by unidentified gunman in Malate, Manila Saturday evening.
Superintendent Rogelio Rosales, commander of the Ermita Police Station 5, Dalaig, 65, succumbed to a bullet wound in his chest.
Click here, ABS-CBN online for complete report.
Idagdag na diyan ang impeachment complaint of Rodante Marcoleta against former CA Justice Commissioner Romeo Brawner.
Something is afoot.
A Muslim gets appointed to a high position in Manila, another Muslim gets killed.
Some years ago, an OMA secretary was also assassinated as another Muslim was appointed.
Both happened in Ermita. Mere coincidences?
The tiyanak is eliminating all the good ones in the position of power so she can appoint all the rotten ones in preparation for the 2010 “Hello Garci” encore!
Another Comelec regional officer from Lanao del Sur was slain over the weekend. Isn’t the brand-new Commissioner Macarambon from Lanao?
Why are these people getting killed? Why not the likes of Garcillano, Bedol, Abalos, and other Hello Garci-characters?
At the rate we are going – 1 Comelec official killed per day – we’d have the whole Comelec revamped by 2010!
Aside from the violent headlines, look at the peripheral news items. A big blast destroys a whole neighborhood, then several boxes of dynamite left behind by an old woman.
Intertwined with the murders, is this THE PRELUDE?
late 80’s (mga 87 or 88 yata ito) pinatay din yung abogado ng comelec, si vic gerochi. nasa comelec pa rin ako noon. hindi siya sa legal division, sa ebad (nakalimutan ko na yung buong pangalan ng department – ganun na katagal :))
then yung sa information department si velma cinco.
pero itong nangyari kay dalaig, maraming anggulo dito.
sana naman, gumaling na at makalabas na sa ospital si sen saguisag.
Sorry for the mix-up.
The election officer from Lanao del Sur was not killed, he was KIDNAPPED.
The other election officer that was killed last Saturday was from Bacoor, Cavite.
There were THREE election officers in the receiving end of the violent acts. Two of them Muslims and just as a Muslim Commissioner was appointed and another one being hunted down (Bedol).
One bloody mess.