DND chief mourns passing of US senator John McCain

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Sen. John McCain, a true friend of the Philippines and the Filipino people. As Chair of the Armed Services Committee of the United States Senate, Senator McCain was among those who valued not just the shared history between our two countries but also the importance of our strategic partnership,” Lorenzana said. (File Photo by Gage Skidmore,CC BY-SA 2.0)

MANILA — Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed his regrets on the passing of former US Sen. John McCain after succumbing to brain cancer Sunday.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Sen. John McCain, a true friend of the Philippines and the Filipino people. As Chair of the Armed Services Committee of the United States Senate, Senator McCain was among those who valued not just the shared history between our two countries but also the importance of our strategic partnership,” he added.

As a former US Navy A-4 “Skyhawk” attack pilot who saw action and was shot down during the Vietnam War, Lorenzana said the US senator never forgot the sacrifices of Filipinos, who fought under the American flag during the Second World War.

“Together with Senator Daniel Inouye and Senator Daniel Akaka, he played an important role in securing US Government recognition for our aging veterans. I had the honor to work with members of the US Congress, one of the high profile personalities was Senator McCain on this important initiative when I was serving as Defense Attaché and later as Veterans Affairs Representative at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. from 2002-2016,” he added.

McCain was born on Aug. 29, 1936 and served as a United States Senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death.

He previously served two terms in the United States House of Representatives and was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 election, which he lost to Barack Obama.

He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1958.