Joker Arroyo dies at 88

FORMER senator Joker Arroyo, a noted human rights lawyer, passed away on Monday following an unsuccessful heart surgery in the United States. He was 88 years old.

Arroyo’s passing was confirmed by former senator Rene Saguisag in a radio interview on Wednesday.

“It’s quite hard to believe. It was a shocker,” he told radio dzBB, adding he was not aware that his friend was brought to the US to receive treatment.

Equally shocked was Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who only learned about it from reporters covering his news conference in Quezon City.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic news of Joker Arroyo’s passing. I value greatly my time spent with him in Senate,” Marcos said.

Sens. Juan Edgardo Angara and Ralph Recto, meanwhile, remembered Arroyo’s contribution to restoring democracy in 1986 following years of dictatorial rule.

“He fought in the courts and in the streets for the restoration of our civil and political rights which we enjoy today,” said Angara.

Recto described Arroyo as a “patriot first class.”

The City of Makati also joined the entire nation in mourning the passing of Arroyo, who had served as a three-term congressman for the first district of Makati from 1992 to 2001.

“The City Government and the people of Makati will forever be grateful to former senator Arroyo, who was among the pillars of the city’s transformation into the thriving financial center that it is today,” Acting Makati City Mayor Romulo Peña said.

Arroyo had a sterling career in public service marked by notable distinctions, such as a 100 percent attendance record for nine years as Makati representative in the House of Representatives.

He was known to have handled more human rights cases than any other lawyer from 1972 to 1986.

Vice President Jejomar Binay said he has “lost a dear friend, a mentor and a brother.”