Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz passes away

Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz passed away on Wednesday morning, House Secretary-General Marilyn Baura-Yap said. The lawmaker was 83 years old. In a text message sent to Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Yap said Diaz died at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday. She, however, did not identify the cause of death. Gonzales forwarded the same information to reporters.

The lawmaker's remains will be brought to the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City for necrological services on Thursday morning, and then will lie in state at the Christ the King Church in Quezon City until Friday. Diaz was a representative of Zambales' second district from 1992 to 2001. He was reelected to the same post in the 2004, 2007 and 2010 elections. Until his death, Diaz headed the House interparliamentary relations and diplomacy committee. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News