MANILA, Philippines — Former Speaker Jose de Venecia has passed away according to Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez.
De Venecia was 89 years old.
"With deep sorrow and profound gratitude, we bid farewell to former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. — a five-time Speaker of the House, a statesman of national stature, and above all, the foremost son of Dagupan," Fernandez said in her Facebook post.
De Venecia was speaker from 1992 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2008, becoming one of the longest-serving Speakers in the country.
He also ran as President in 1998, but lost to then Vice President Joseph Estrada.