THE House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted House Resolution (HR) 1355 and immediately suspended its session until three in the afternoon Wednesday to mourn the passing of former Deputy Speaker, Cebu Rep. Raul Veloso Del Mar.
“Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the traditions of the House because of the untimely [death of] our dear colleague, Rep. Del Mar, I move that we suspend the session until tomorrow, Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 3 o’clock p.m.,” said Deputy Majority Leader and Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus “XJ” Romualdo.
“Session is suspended to mourn the passing of our distinguished colleague, the veteran lawmaker, session will resume tomorrow at 3 o’clock p.m.,” Deputy Speaker Conrado M. Estrella III of Abono party-list responded to Romualdo.
However, the session was reopened again to adopt HR 1355 to honor the huge contributions of del Mar as a veteran lawmaker before it was suspended until 3 p.m. this Wednesday.
Lawmakers led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco as well as Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez expressed their condolences to the demise of Del Mar.
“I am deeply saddened by the news that my good friend and colleague, Representative Raul Del Mar, has left us to join his Creator. My sympathies go out to the love of his life— his family, friends and constituents in Cebu City. Deputy Speaker Del Mar will be terribly missed in the halls of Congress, where he devoted most of his public life crafting legislation that aim to improve our people’s living condition. At a ripe age of 79, he never got tired of reporting for work to serve his constituents even at the height of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19) pandemic. Farewell, my dear friend. May your memories as a dedicated public servant— one of Cebu’s best— never be forgotten,” said Romualdez, chairman of the powerful House committee on rules.
“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of former Deputy Speaker Raul Veloso Del Mar. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his constituencies in the First District of Cebu City, whom he had served well. Representative Del Mar proved his passion and commitment to public service by religiously attending plenary sessions and public hearings of the House of Representatives in order to fulfill his duties and mandate as a lawmaker. He had perfect attendance for the 27 years that he was a lawmaker,” Velasco said.
“His (Del Mar) contributions to Congress and the nation cannot be overstated, having served a total of nine terms as congressman since 1987. He was a mentor to me and many others. He would have been a deputy speaker under my term. The dedication of Congressman del Mar to public service is truly remarkable and serves as an inspiration to many. We owe him a debt of gratitude. He will be missed,” Velasco added.
