FEBRUARY 10, 2026 — Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., “Manong Joe” to many, passed away on February 10, 2026, at the age of 89. His death closes the curtain on one of the longest-running acts in Philippine politics — a career that spanned decades, shaped coalitions, and stirred both admiration and criticism.

De Venecia was the longest-serving Speaker of the House in the postwar era, holding the gavel five times. He was a master coalition-builder, credited with strengthening Lakas-CMD and pushing programs like the Dollar Remittance Program that benefited millions of overseas Filipino families. He also remained a columnist until his final days, penning reflections on politics and peace.

But his legacy is not without shadows. De Venecia was linked to controversies that tested his reputation. 

In the late 1990s, his name surfaced in the PIATCO airport terminal scandal, where questions of government contracts and alleged irregularities hounded the administration he supported. Later, in the 2000s, his family was entangled in the ZTE broadband deal controversy — his son, Joey de Venecia III, testified about alleged corruption in the project, a scandal that rocked the Arroyo administration and indirectly pulled the elder de Venecia into the spotlight.

These episodes remind us that de Venecia’s career was not just about bridge-building but also about navigating the murky waters of Philippine politics, where influence and controversy often collide. Yet, despite these storms, he remained a fixture in the House, a man who thrived in negotiation and dialogue.

His passing is a reminder of how deeply politics touches our daily lives — from remittances to infrastructure, from coalition-building to scandals that shake public trust. De Venecia embodied the contradictions of Philippine politics: visionary yet pragmatic, coalition-builder yet survivor of controversies.

The question now is how history will judge him. Was he the kingmaker who kept Congress talking, or the politician whose name was never far from scandal? Perhaps he was both — and that duality is what makes his story resonate.

Jose de Venecia Jr.’s life proves that in Philippine politics, legacies are built not only on triumphs but also on the controversies we dare to confront. His passing reminds us that true leadership is measured not by power held, but by the bridges built and the voices heard.

(Image: Global Peace Foundation)