WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Philippines on Monday expressed its profound sorrow over the passing of US Senate president pro tempore Daniel Inouye, Manila’s staunchest champion in the US Congress.

“Senator Inouye was more than just a friend of the Philippines,” Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said, adding: “We grieve over his passing because the Filipino people have embraced him as one of their own.”

The most senior member of the US Senate succumbed to respiratory complications at 5:01 p.m. EST on Monday (6:01 a.m., Tuesday in Manila), at the age of 88.

Cuisia said that Inouye will always be remembered for championing the cause of the Philippines in the US Senate, where he served for nearly nine terms.

In nearly five decades as a legislator, Inouye sponsored and supported numerous bills that fostered Philippine-American relations.

A World War II hero and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Inouye tirelessly championed the cause of Filipino veterans and was instrumental in the enactment of the filipino veterans bill under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Senator Inouye believed that the US has shortchanged the Philippines with its unfulfilled promise to Filipinos who were drafted in 1941 to serve alongside US soldiers in World War II and he wanted to make up for that,” the ambassador added.

Patrick Ganio Sr., president of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, said that Filipino war veterans will always be grateful for what Inouye did for them.

“Senator Inouye was our humble and tireless leader. He passed the 1990 law that allowed 30,000 of us Filipino World War II veterans to become US citizens,” Ganio, 91, said.

“Inouye, as chairman of the Senate Appropriation Committee, pushed the 2009 Equity Compensation law that restored the Filipino war veterans’ active service veterans status and provided them one lump-sum payment,” Ganio said.

“Without senator Inouye’s crucial leadership and guidance, we Filipino veterans would not have won our battles in the halls of the US congress. To him we say, mahalo and aloha. The American and Filipino people will never forget your heroism and caring of your comrades and their families,” he said in a statement.

Cuisia said that the senator from Hawaii was the main sponsor of the Save Our Industries Act, a bill that will allow the export to the US of Philippine apparel made of American fabrics. This legislation aims to increase jobs and exports income for both countries.

Inouye was also a strong advocate of strengthening Philippine military capabilities and enhancing Philippines-US defense relations by providing increased military financial support for the Philippines.

“Many people may not be aware of it but senator Inouye was actually always proud to say that he was an honorary citizen of Bulacan and Pangasinan,” Cuisia said.

“Senator Inouye’s affinity with the Philippines is also evident in the fact that that majority of his constituents in Hawaii come from Ilocos.”

Cuisia noted that Inouye had three Filipinos in his staff, including Chief-of-Staff Marie Blanco. He said that the Hawaii lawmakers also always made sure that he mentioned his close friendship with former Defense secretary Alejo Santos and former ambassador Alejandro Melchor in his conversations with Philippine officials.

During Inouye’s visit to the Philippines in 2011, President Benigno Aquino 3rd conferred on him one of the country’s highest awards—the Order of Sikatuna—for fostering, developing and strengthening relations between the Philippines and the United States. He was also previously awarded the Order of Lakandula and was presented with a Presidential Citation.

His last meeting with Filipino officials was with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, in September.

A tireless advocate for the disenfranchised and minorities, Inouye was always among the first to speak out against injustices whether interned Japanese Americans, Filipino World War II veterans, native Americans and native Hawaiians.

He was third in line of presidential succession after Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner.

Inouye served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Commerce Committee and was the first chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Del Rosario, on Tuesday, extended his condolences and sympathies to the family Inouye, who he described as “a true friend” to the Philippines.

“I personally recall how he kindly mentored me when, as the Philippine ambassador to the United States, I was learning to navigate the intricate workings of the US Congress,” del Rosario said in the statement.

“As we pay tribute to this consummate statesman, war hero and generous spirit, we express our deepest sympathies to his wife, Irene, his son, Kenny, the people of the great state of Hawaii and the American people on this monumental loss,” he added.