A mass was held on Saturday night at the Mt. Carmel Shrine in Quezon City, where the wake of Albay First District Representative Edcel Lagman was being held.

Family members and close friends gathered to pay their respects to the late lawmaker. 

Among those in attendance was former Labor secretary Ruben Torres, who shared fond memories of his longtime friend.

 "Edcel was my bestfriend. We were together in the University of the Philippines for 8 years. We were roommates. He was a kind man. He is a leader, a good writer," Torres said. 

"We were part of the debating team of the UP College of Law. We were always against death penalty and true enough when he became congressman he sponsored the bill on death penalty and also divorce," he added.

 Torres described Lagman as a “progressive thinker and a brilliant lawyer” and called his passing “a great loss to the nation."

 "Edcel grew up to be really a progressive thinker and also a very briliant lawyer. I admire him a lot. Edcel is a great loss to our nation. He has been a congressman, a very staunch supporter of very important legislations," he said. 

Former House Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte also honored Lagman’s legacy, highlighting his independent-minded nature.

 "Edcel is a very independent person. Independent-minded man and even if he's your good friend, he's not about to bow to your request just because you're friends. Edcel is a man of principle. Most of the time we disagree even when we're the best of friends," he said.

 Former Vice President Jejomar Binay also attended the wake.

 Lagman’s remains will be transported to Bicol for the wake in his hometown.