THE House of Representatives will hold a necrological service on Friday, Sept. 25, for the late Batanes Rep. Ciriaco “Jun” B. Gato Jr., honoring a physician-lawmaker who devoted decades to healing patients before bringing the same commitment to public service and national health policy.
The leadership of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos will lead members of the 20th Congress in paying their final respects to Gato during the service from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the House Plenary Hall.
The program will include eulogies from Speaker Dy, Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Cagayan Rep. Joseph “Jojo” Lara, Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, former Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza, Dr. Edwin Mercado, Dr. Charlotte Chiong, and Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi.
The House will also formally offer its resolution of condolences and legislative memorabilia to Gato’s family, with his daughter, Atty. Georgina Mia B. Gato, delivering the family’s response.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Band will lead the processional, while Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union will preside over the rites.
Mr. Erwin Vicman R. Lara will deliver the invocation during the necrological service, while Fr. Jenny “John” Capindo will give the final blessing and benediction.
Gato, who passed away on Sept. 21 at age 66, represented the lone district of Batanes for three consecutive terms beginning in 2019 and was serving in the 20th Congress at the time of his death.
A native of Sabtang, Batanes, Gato built his professional life in medicine long before entering Congress. He graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and trained at the Philippine General Hospital, experiences that would later shape much of his legislative work in the House.
As chairman of the House Committee on Health, Gato became closely identified with measures involving hospital development, maternal and child health, medical professionals, patient protection, emergency care, blood services and the strengthening of the country’s public health system.
Among the national health measures he authored or co-authored that became law were the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines Act and legislation expanding the bed capacity of the CARAGA Regional Hospital, while his congressional work also consistently focused on improving access to medical services in geographically isolated Batanes.
The House earlier adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 1470, principally authored by Dy, Marcos and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, expressing the chamber’s profound condolences to Gato’s family and recognizing his service to his fellow Ivatans and to the country.
Friday’s necrological service will bring Gato back for a final time to the chamber where he represented Batanes and championed public health, as colleagues, fellow physicians, friends and family remember a life spent moving between two callings that ultimately became one: caring for people.
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