Nagpahayag ang Malacañang ng kalungkutan sa pagyao noong Lunes ng ama ng Singapore na si Lee Kuan Yew.

Sinabi ni deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte na nakikisama si Pangulong Aquino sa sambayanang Pilipino sa pagpaparating ng kanilang pakikiramay sa mamamayan ng Singapore sa pagpanaw ng isang magaling na lider.

“The President, in joining the Filipino people in expressing solidarity of the Philippines with Singapore at this time of mourning, extends his personal condolences to Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong,” sabi ni Valte.

“The Filipino people join them in honoring a statesman who can justifiably be called the Founding Father of the Republic of Singapore,” aniya.

Binanggit din ni Valte ang malakas na bilateral relations ng Pilipinas at Singapore, at maging ang pagkakaibigan nina Pangulong Aquino at Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong, anak ni Lee Kuan Yew.

“Prime Minister Lee has always extended every official and personal courtesy to the President in his visits to Singapore and their official interactions in the ASEAN community,” ani Valte.

Nagbigay-pugay din ang Palace official sa yumaong dating lider ng Singapore.

“The development of Singapore has earned it the respect of nations and peoples, including the tens of thousands of Filipinos who work there and visit the country,” saad niya.

Si Lee Kuan Yew, 91, ay yumao dahil sa pneumonia sa Singapore General Hospital kahapon, Marso 23, 2015.

Si Lee ang unang Prime Minister ng Singapore, at naupo sa puwesto sa loob ng tatlong dekada. Siya ay kilala bilang founding father ng modernong Singapore at maging sa pagiging “Architect of Modern Singapore.”

Binago ni Lee ang Singapore mula sa pagiging underdeveloped colonial outpost na walang likas na yaman sa pagiging “First World” Asian Tiger.