Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. passed away yesterday. He was 73.
Yasay’s death was announced by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in a Facebook post yesterday morning. The religious organization later posted a photo of a statement from Yasay’s wife Cecile.
“My husband, my lover, my bestfriend – left us today (Friday) at 7:26 a.m. due to pneumonia caused by the recurrence of his cancer, not COVID-19,” Cecile wrote in Facebook post shared to her friends. “Jun Yasay, you are loved. We will miss you lots,” she added.
In a tweet, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. paid tribute to Yasay, a former member of the Duterte Cabinet.
“‘Jun Yasay has donned the garment of immortality,” Locsin said on Twitter. More important it makes him finally impervious to pain. He recommended me for my UN job. He hurt no one and helped everyone he could. He did what many fighting tyranny had to: Shield themselves with US law,” Locsin added.
“Because the United States is the only country – and thankfully, the greatest military power in history – dedicated to liberty at home and everywhere abroad it is imperiled. Thank you, America, for shielding him while he fought for Filipino liberty. May his detractors burn in hell.”
Malacañang has condoled with the family of Yasay, a former member of the Duterte Cabinet.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of former Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. who died today, June 12,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. “As we pay tribute and honor Secretary Yasay, we offer our sincerest prayers to the Almighty to grant him eternal repose,” he added.
Yasay, upon his retirement from government service, served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Christian University on Taft Ave. in Manila.
The former Securities and Exchange commissioner of then President Estrada was appointed by President Duterte to the DFA post in June 2016 but his appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments over his supposed inconsistent statements about his American citizenship in March 2017.
Duterte later defended his longtime friend Yasay, insisting he is a Filipino citizen despite being an asylum-seeker in the United States during the martial law period. They were dormitory roommates when they were studying law years ago. (Vanne Terrazola and Genalyn Kabiling)
