Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Former speaker of the House Jose De Venecia in attendance at the Rotary Club of Manila event held at the New World Hotel in Makati on July 18, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177070243185520190718-rotary-club-isko-GC-5928.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former speaker of the House Jose De Venecia in attendance at the Rotary Club of Manila event held at the New World Hotel in Makati on July 18, 2019. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE)</strong> — Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. has passed away, his family confirmed to ABS-CBN News on Tuesday. He was was 89 years old.</p><p>&quot;With heavy hearts, our family announces the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and patriarch, former Speaker of the House Jose C. de Venecia Jr.,&quot; his family said in a statement.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/28/senate-honors-former-speaker-jose-de-venecia-1937">Senate honors former speaker Jose De Venecia</a></div><p>De Venecia, also known as &quot;JDV,&quot; was longtime lawmaker and political leader.</p><p>Born in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, De Venecia was elected representative of Pangasinan seven times.</p><p>The House of Representatives said that De Venecia was the only member of the House who served as Speaker for five terms, particularly during the 9th to 10th, and 12th to 14th Congresses. Sen. Loren Legarda called it &quot;an unprecedented feat in postwar Philippine Congress.&quot;</p><p>He was a principal author of the Dollar Remittance Program, the Bases Conversion and Development Act, the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, the Philippine Economic Zone Act, and the New Central Bank Act, among others.</p><p>&quot;He championed landmark legislation that transformed the Philippine economy, strengthened democratic institutions, and uplifted millions of Filipino families, including overseas workers,&quot; the De Venecia family said.</p><p>&quot;A tireless peacemaker, Speaker de Venecia pursued dialogue at moments when peace efforts were difficult and often unpopular, contributing to historic agreements with RAM-AFP-YOU in 1995 and the Moro National Liberation Front in 1996,&quot; they added.</p><p>In 2024, both the House of Representatives and the Senate honored De Venecia in separate resolutions recognizing his decades-long career in public service.</p><p>&quot;He helped elevate Asia’s collective voice and placed the Philippines at the center of global conversations on peace and diplomacy,&quot; the De Venecia family said.</p><p>&quot;As we mourn his passing, we give thanks for a life that helped shape the Philippine Republic — and for a legacy that endures in our laws, our institutions, and our continuing pursuit of peace,&quot; they noted.</p><p>Arrangements for De Venecia’s wake and interment will be announced later by his family.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;A STATESMAN OF NATIONAL STATURE&#x27;<br/></strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177070388297320080204-jose-de-venecia-hor-AFP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">House speaker Jose de Venecia delivers a speech at the House of Representatives in Quezon City late night February 4, 2008. De Venecia ended his 12-year leadership at dawn 05 February 2008 as he was ousted by Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles. AFP/File</span></span></span></div><p>In a Facebook post, Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez said &quot;Dagupan mourns&quot; the passing of De Venecia.</p><p>&quot;With deep sorrow and profound gratitude, we bid farewell to former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. — a five-time Speaker of the House, a statesman of national stature, and above all, the foremost son of Dagupan,&quot; Fernandez said.</p><p>Fernandez recalled that during the &quot;devastating 1990 earthquake&quot; in Dagupan, it was De Venecia who stood firmly for the city.</p><p>&quot;Through his leadership and authorship of the necessary national funding, he became the principal architect of our rehabilitation, recovery, and renewed rise. Because of him, Dagupan did not simply rebuild — we rose stronger,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmbtfpage%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02NRyiRhXyawytLd276LHvbPusVm3fUkij1CNuCXp7JSD7ZZEFnLWuusHJbJKuEVaFl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="497" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in a statement also paid tribute to the veteran lawmaker, whom he called &quot;one of the greatest pillars of Philippine democracy.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/06/12/17/jdv-pushes-joint-devt-south-china-sea-given-to-us-by-god">JDV pushes joint dev&#x27;t: South China Sea given to us by God</a></div><p>&quot;Today, we mourn the passing of one of the greatest pillars of Philippine democracy and the political father of Lakas-CMD, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.—a man whose brilliance, courage, and compassion helped shape the soul of our nation,&quot; Romualdez said.</p><p>&quot;On a personal level, I will forever be grateful for his kindness, guidance, and quiet encouragement over the years. He was generous with his wisdom, gracious in victory, and dignified in all seasons of public life. To me and to many in our party, he was a mentor, a statesman, and a father figure. His passing is deeply personal,&quot; he added.</p><p>Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said he considers JDV as one of his &quot;politiko idols.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sa kanya ko talaga natutunan kung paano maging consensus builder. Yung leadership style ko, malaking bahagi niyan ay galing sa kanya. Madami akong nakuha sa kanyang brand of consultative leadership, yung style niya na listening first before deciding, and then finding a path that benefits everyone,&quot; Zubiri said.</p><p>For Sen. Chiz Escudero, De Venecia was a &quot;towering figure in Philippine politics,&quot; who &quot;guided younger legislators with patience and wisdom.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I recall my early years as a neophyte in the House of Representatives, when Speaker de Venecia was fatherly to me. He guided younger legislators with patience and wisdom, offering counsel that was both practical and inspiring. His mentorship reflected his belief that leadership meant nurturing others to serve with integrity and vision,&quot; Escudero said.</p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong><strong> <span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJn7W3D-SG0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><em></em></div>

<p>Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., also known as "JDV," has passed away.</p>

Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., also known as "JDV," has passed away.

​Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. passes away

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​Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. passes away

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 10, 2026 01:58 PM PHT

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Updated February 10, 2026 03:16 PM PHT

Read More:

JDV

Jose de Venecia

politics

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Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. passes away

Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. passes away