Martin1 PHILCONSA President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez pays tribute to Philippine Constitution Association Chairman and retired Justice Manuel ‘Lolong’ Lazaro during necrological service at Sanctuario De San Antonio Chapel in Makati City. Lazaro was 87 years old. From 1976 to 1986, he was the Government Corporate Counsel (GCC) with the rank and privileges of Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals (CA). Photo by Ver Noveno

Romualdez: Lazaro justice ‘par excellence’

May 19, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 621 views

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez led the sweet tributes for the late Justice Manuel “Lolong” Lazaro on Thursday morning, May 19 at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City.

From 1976 to 1986, he was the Government Corporate Counsel (GCC) with the rank and privileges of Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals (CA).

Lazaro is the late chairman of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), a non-stock and nonpartisan organization committed to defend, preserve, and protect the Constitution. Romualdez is the Philconsa president.

“We are all here today, and we are still in disbelief that our leading light, Justice Lolong, has gone ahead of us,” Romualdez said in his eulogy for Lazaro.

Romualdez, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, described Lazaro as “a great man, one who exemplifies the best in public service and the legal profession”.

“He had set the bar so high for a former member of the Court of Appeals. A justice par excellence,” the Leyte solon said in a message.

“He belonged to that rare breed of lawyers in the country who masterfully balance his work as justice and family man. Throughout his career in the judiciary and even in his private life, Justice Lolong served as an immovable defender of the Constitution, the likes of whom are few and far between,” the leading speakership contender in the 19th Congress said of Lazaro.

Also delivering eulogies for their beloved Justice Lazaro Thursday were former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, Philconsa President Emeritus; lawyer Fe Barin, Philconsa governor and former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman; Jose Leviste, Philconsa Governor; and Nona Ricafort, Philconsa treasurer.

Lazaro is survived by his wife Rose Marie B. Lazaro and children Melinda L. Castillo, Matthew B. Lazaro, Maybelle L. Villadolid, Melanio B. Lazaro, and Michelle B. Lazaro.

“He will be missed, but those he has inspired among us will continue to carry the torch that he left behind. Farewell, my friend. May you continue to guide us as we toil to build a better future for our people. And thank you, for a job well done,” Romualdez said of his dear Justice Lolong.

Philconsa is the oldest and most respectable association of legal luminaries in the country. It has been in existence for almost 60 years. By Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

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