(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte visited the wake of former National Security Adviser Jose Roilo Golez early Thursday morning, June 14.
This was hours after he presided over the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police command conference in Malacanang.
The President arrived in Golez’s wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig past 1:43 a.m. He was received by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.
He did not entertain questions from the media.
The Chief Executive personally extended his condolences to Golez’s spouse, Natalia Golez; son, Parañaque City Vice Mayor Rico Golez; and daughter, Guadalupe “Guada” Golez-Duque.
President Duterte had earlier described Golez as an upright man who is into clean living.
During his speech at the oath-taking of the newly elected Punong Barangays in Region III last June 12, the President said Golez was a man who had no known vices.
“Walang bisyo ‘yung tao na ‘yun. Well I really do not know but hindi yata umiinom ‘yun. Eh ano, ‘yung clean living. Wala akong nabalitaang babae,” he said then.
Both Duterte and Golez served as members of the 11th Congress of the House of Representatives. Duterte was then the Davao City (1st District) Representative and Golez was the Parañaque.
Golez was Congressman for six terms in Parañaque from 1992 to 2001, and from 2004 to 2013.
He served as the National Security Adviser during the term of former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He also served during the Marcos regime as deputy administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority from 1978 to 1981, then later became the Postmaster General from 1981 to 1986.
Golez graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, USA with a Bachelor of Science degree, major in mathematics and operations analysis.
He took his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of the Philippines and graduated as class valedictorian.
Golez, a Romblon native, succumbed to a heart attack on Monday morning, June 11, at the age of 71.
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Senator Richard Gordon and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also paid their last respects to the former National Security Adviser before the President arrived.
Golez’s remains will be interred on June 16, Saturday at the Heritage Park, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. (With a Malacañang release)