Former senator Ramon Revilla Sr. passed away today at age 93, weeks after being rushed to the hospital over a critical illness.
A tearful Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. announced his father’s death in a Facebook video.
“Wala na po tatay ko. Wala na po tatay ko. Please pray for him,” he said.
Malacañang on Friday sent its deep condolences to the Revilla family.
“We share the grief of the Revilla clan, and as tributes pour to honor the life and legacy of this respected movie icon and public servant, we pray that the Almighty grant Mr. Revilla eternal repose,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
Roque acknowledged Revilla’s contributions to the Philippine movie industry and political achievements, especially his authorship of Republic Act 8150, or the Public Works and Highways Infrastructure Program Act of 1995.
The “Hari ng Agimat” became senator in 1992 after a failed run in 1987 when he was forced to use his real name, Jose Bautista, which was unknown to voters. Allowed to use his screen name in 1992, he went on to serve two terms until 2004.
The former movie star authored an amendment to the Family Code more known as the “Revilla Bill,” which enabled illegitimate children to adopt their father’s surname “if their affiliation has been expressly recognized by the father through the record of birth appearing in the civil register, or when an admission in a public document or private handwritten instrument is made by the father.”
“The child should not suffer the stigma of his illegitimacy,” the ex-lawmaker, who is said to have sired more than 70 children, was once quoted as saying.
Revilla starred in iconic movies such as “Nardong Putik,” “Pepeng Agimat” and “Hulihin si Tiyagong Akyat,” for which he won a Famas Best Actor Award.
He was also a recipient of a lifetime Catholic Mass Media Award. John Ezekiel J. Hirro