Diplomats mourn Edgardo Angara's passing

MANILA, Philippines — A number of diplomats took to social media to convey their condolences to the Angara family following the death of former Sen. Edgardo Angara.

European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen who called Angara “a great patriot and true friend of the EU” said he was saddened by the death of the former senator, who is also President Rodrigo Duterte's special envoy to the EU.

READ: Edgardo Angara dies at 83

“I am saddened to hear that Senator Ed Angara, a statesman and a good friend, has passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Jessen said in a statement.

Laurent Le Godec, deputy head of the French Embassy in the Philippines, also said he was saddened by Angara's passing.

"Saddened by the passing away of former Senate President Edgardo Angara, who did a lot to help develop PH-EU ties & friendship. Condolences to @sonnyangara and to all his family,” Le Godec wrote on his Twitter account.

Union of European Football Associations pro football coach Maor Rozen also took to Twitter to express sympathies after the death of late EU special envoy.

“Very sad day. We lost a great man, I lost a friend,” Rozen said.

Very sad day. We lost a great man, I lost a friend. Edgardo J. Angara @edangara RIP. pic.twitter.com/aGpuEM1t4E

— Maor Rozen (@CoachMAORROZEN) May 13, 2018

Angara was named special envoy to the EU in May last year.

His appointment came after President Rodrigo Duterte criticized the EU bloc for supposedly meddling in his war on illegal drugs.

On Wednesday, Angara attended the 68^th Europe Day, or the annual commemoration of the 1950 Schuman Declaration that led to the creation of the European Union.

Angara passed away at the age of 83 on Sunday of an apparent heart attack.