US senator John McCain, a celebrated war hero known for reaching across the aisle in an increasingly divided America, died Saturday after losing a battle to brain cancer, his office said. He was 81. “Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family,” his office said in a statement. “At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years.” / AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK
(Eagle News) — The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, extended its condolences to the family of the late Republican US senator John McCain who passed away on Saturday, August 25, 2018 after a battle with brain cancer.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano also paid tribute to the late US senator, saying the Philippines “lost a true friend and champion with his passing.”
“The Filipino people extend their deepest condolences to Senator McCain’s family and to the people of the United States of America,” Cayetano said shortly after he was informed that the 81-year-old Republican legislator had passed away.
“We deeply mourn the death of Sen. John McCain, a true friend of the Philippines and one of our champions in the United States Congress,” he said in a statement released by the DFA.
Cayetano recalled that McCain had shared with him and the other members of his Philippine delegation to the US, when they visited him last September, about his family’s history and affinity with the Philippines.
-Affinity with the Philippines-
“Senator McCain told us his grandfather served in the Philippines during the American Occupation and the Second World War while his father, who became a Navy admiral, also saw action in the Philippines and was a recipient of our Legion of Honor,” he said.
“Senator McCain also told us about the time he spent in Subic as a young Navy aviator serving in Vietnam and his arrival at Clark Air Base after his release as a prisoner of war,” he added.
Cayetano also recalled how the Arizona senator took time off his busy schedule to receive him and his delegation that included Permanent Representative to the United Nations Teodoro T. Locsin, Jr. and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Luis G. Montales at his Capitol Hill offices in September.
In that meeting, he and Senator McCain discussed the challenges confronting Manila and Washington and how the partnership can be further strengthened to address non-traditional security concerns, such as drug trafficking and violent extremism.
“We will remember Senator McCain for translating America’s commitment into action and for playing a vital role in keeping our alliance strong and capable to address current strategic challenges,” Cayetano said.
-Support for Mindanao peace process–
“Senator McCain’s support for the Mindanao peace process also exemplified his humanitarian spirit and his lifelong dedication to the cause of peace and justice,” said the Secretary who was the last senior Philippine government official to be received by the legislator who was then the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The DFA chief also recalled his invitation for the senator to make another trip to the Philippines, which he last visited in 2015 as part of a congressional delegation.
(with a DFA release)
