Malacañang expressed sorrow over the death of former House Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, who passed away on Wednesday at 74.
“The Palace expresses its deep condolences to the family, colleagues and loved ones left behind by former House Speaker Arnulfo ‘Noli’ Fuentebella who passed away this morning, September 9, 2020,” Palace spokesman Harry said in a statement.
The ex-House speaker’s death was announced by his son, Camarines Sur Rep. Arnie Fuentebella, in a Facebook post.
Arnie said his father succumbed to heart failure after battling kidney disease for almost two years.
Roque honored Arnulfo’s efforts as a long-time public servant.
“Former Speaker Fuentebella served the country and the province of Camarines Sur well. The time and effort he gave to improve the condition of his beloved district will always be remembered by his constituents,” he said.
“As we pay tribute to the life and legacy of the former Speaker, we pray that his family would find strength in this time of mourning,” he added.
Fuentebella was speaker from Nov. 13, 2000 to January 24, 2001.
He represented Camarines Sur’s third district from 1992 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2010, and the fourth district from 2010 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2019. John Ezekiel J. Hirro