'True statesman, man of deep conviction': House honors late Edcel Lagman

Manila Bulletin

Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday, Feb. 5, honored the late Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman as the House of Representatives held a necrological service for the Bicolano. (Video courtesy of House of Representatives)  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/5/true-statesman-man-of-deep-conviction-house-honors-late-edcel-lagman  Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5664f6TkaeHgwBly50DWZQ/join  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00Honoured colleagues, distinguished guests, and the bereaved family of the Honourable

00:13Edsel Agban.

00:16Today, we gather not merely to mourn the passing of a legislator, but to honour a life devoted

00:27to the unrelenting pursuit of justice, the unwavering defence of democracy, and the fearless

00:36exercise of principle.

00:42To speak of Edsel Agban is to speak of a statesman in the truest sense of the word.

00:50He was a man of deep conviction, unafraid to stand alone when necessary, and unyielding

01:00in his belief that governance is not about placating the powerful, but about serving

01:08the powerless.

01:11For decades, he walked these halls as both a legislator and a leader, sometimes in the

01:20majority, often in the minority, but always in the service of the Filipino people.

01:32His name became synonymous with progressive reform, human rights, and an independent Congress

01:43that held itself accountable to history, and not just to the tides of politics.

01:52He was the architect of laws that will endure beyond his lifetime, a responsible parenthood

02:02and reproductive health act, the abolition of the death penalty, the Human Rights Victims

02:11Reparation and Recognition Act, each a pillar of his legislative legacy.

02:23They were not always popular.

02:26They were not always easy.

02:30But Edsel Agban did not come to Congress to seek the approval of the comfortable.

02:38He came to uplift those who had been forgotten.

02:43And yet, to remember him only for his legislative triumphs is to tell only half of his story.

02:54Edsel was more than a sum of the bills he passed or the speeches he delivered.

03:03He was a mentor to many, a fierce but respectful opponent, and above all, a man who understood

03:15that democracy is built not on agreement, but on dialogue, not on uniformity, but on

03:27dissent.

03:30We who remain in public service would do well to learn from his example, to debate fiercely

03:40but fairly, to disagree but never to dehumanize, to never confuse power with principle nor

03:52compromise with surrender.

03:58In the House of Representatives, we are measured not by the numbers of our terms nor the height

04:05of our titles, but the weight of the causes we choose to carry.

04:13Edsel Agban carried his causes with honor.

04:17He carried them with dignity.

04:20He carried them even when they became burdens.

04:25And today, as we bid him farewell, we take upon ourselves the responsibility of carrying

04:34them forward.

04:38To his family, we extend our deepest condolences.

04:44But know this, Edsel Agban does not belong to the past.

04:51His work, his words, and his wisdom belong to us, now in the present and the future.

05:06Farewell Congressman Lagman, Mano Edsel.

05:11May the light of your service never fade.

05:16May the loss you fought for never be undone.

05:21And may history remember you, not just as a legislator, but a man who stood for what

05:29was right, even when it was not easy, even when it was not convenient, and even when

05:39you had to stand alone.

05:43Thank you very much, Edsel.

05:46Goodbye and good luck.

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