Drilon to attend Lee Kuan Yew’s state funeral in Singapore

Senate President Franklin Drilon opens the First Session of the Senate for the Year 2015 on Tuesday (Jan. 20, 2015) at the Senate Building in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Senate President Franklin M. Drilon will represent President Benigno Aquino III, the government and the Filipino people at the state funeral of Singapore’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who died on Monday at the age of 91.

“The President has asked me to represent him and the Filipino people as we join the nation of Singapore in this time of grieving for the loss of a great Asian leader, former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew,” said Drilon.

He said that the state funeral will be held on March 29, 2015, at the Singapore University Cultural Center.

Drilon will be joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima.

The Senate leader said that the Filipino people are deeply affected by Lee’s death, who, he added, inspired many leaders of various nations, including himself.

“Lee Kuan Yew showed us that resolute political will can positively transform nations and societies and uplift them from the shackles of poverty,” said Drilon.

Lee has been recognized by the world for transforming Singapore into an economically stable nation. He served as Singapore’s prime minister for 31 years, the longest serving prime minister, from 1959 to 1990.