Bacacay, Albay –Former Vice President Leni Robredo was among the first to pay her respects to the late Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Monday morning, February 3, in Sogod, Bacacay, Albay, where the congressman’s remains were laid.
In her message, Atty. Robredo said that the death of Congressman Lagman was a significant loss to the Liberal Party, where he introduced innovations that continue to shape the party’s reconstruction process.
More than just a loss for the party, Robredo shared that Lagman’s passing was deeply personal to her. He had treated her as if she were his own child.
“Sa akin personal kasi noong naging vice president ako, naging malapit ako kay Cong Edcel. Malapit yung bahay na tinitirhan ko sa Manila sa bahay niya, so kapag merong kailangang isangguni, pinupuntahan ko siya sa bahay, at yung treatment niya talaga sa akin parang anak niya. Kaya ngayon na wala na siya, yung loss talagang ramdam na ramdam,” Robredo said.
Various groups have held masses for the late congressman, and during this morning’s mass, Reverend Father Christian Bosita, the officiating priest, shared that he couldn’t let this moment pass without holding a mass for Lagman, as he had been a former scholar of the late congressman.
“When I was studying philosophy, philosophy is 4 years and theology is another 4 years, I was his scholar all throughout my philosophy years and until my 2nd year of theology. It was a great help for me personally since I came from a not-so-rich family, just a middle-class one, and I had other siblings who were also in college,” recalls Father Bosita, who is now the assistant parish priest of St. John the Baptist Parish in Tabaco City.
Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman, the eldest of Congressman Lagman’s seven children, said that her father had helped over 16,000 poor and deserving students, many of whom are now professionals holding positions in both government and private sectors.
“It started in 2006 and I think more than 16,500 scholars have graduated through the Lagman scholarship program. When I was congresswoman, I took over and helped finish the education of students who hadn’t graduated during Congressman Lagman’s term. When he returned, the program continued, and we reached more than 16,500 graduates. Many of them are now professionals—some are in government service, including provincial directors and high-ranking officials in the military, PNP, and other uniformed services. Some are nurses abroad, engineers in Dubai, and architects. When they visit, they always say, ‘I was a Lagman scholar,’” Mayor Krisel added.
Congressman Lagman’s remains were flown to Bicol on Sunday morning, February 2. On the first night, friends, supporters, and political allies gathered to pay their respects.
Among them was Bicol Tourism Regional Director Herbie Aguas, who had once run against Lagman in the congressional race for the first district of Albay.
“I ran for congressman in 2019, and it was a one-on-one race with Tito Edcel. It was a very close and historic fight because I was the only one who came close to the legendary ‘Superman.’ The funny thing is, even though we were rivals, our relationship was like love and hate. There was mutual respect. Even during our rivalry, there was a time when I laughed at something he said, that I was fighting against him but still praising him. I’m just telling the truth. I’m not ungrateful—I always recognize and appreciate the work he did for the first district, especially for Sto. Domingo, Albay,” Aguas recalled.
Tomorrow, Congressman Lagman’s remains will be transferred to St. John the Baptist Church in Tabaco City, where masses will be held throughout the day. A send-off ceremony will take place tomorrow night before his remains are flown back to Manila on Wednesday morning for a necrological service in Congress.