Others would surely say the country lost a genuine patriot, a fighter, a human-rights defender and a great Bicolano. They will say that you would be missed. They will say your contributions to the nation were invaluable.
I will simply add that I just lost a dear friend and mentor.
Joker Arroyo loved a good fight —and never runs away from it. He served his country right. And he deserved a big “Thank You” from all of us.
He rose to the occasion when standing up to what is right and just was becoming a hazardous job. He always chose his country over friendship and personal ties. But sometimes, Joker Arroyo could be a loyal friend to a fault.
This is where the magnificence of the man lies. He will stick by your side no matter what.
Joker stood by his beliefs with the tenacity of a wild bear. To understand Joker is to understand the wind and the mist.
He was always the maverick.
He would be leaving behind a nation that still suffers from the same problems that he liked to rant about with fierce dedication.
And now he left us to face all these. Perhaps, the joke is now on us.
My Wednesdays would never be the same again. Paalam, mahal kong kaibigan.