JAKARTA - Sad news came from the Philippines, after former president Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III was reported to have died while being treated at a hospital in Manila, Thursday, June 24.

Noynoy died at the age of 61 years. He served as President of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. The cause of his death is not yet clear, but his family is expected to provide information in the near future.

The Philippine Presidential Palace also offered condolences to outgoing party Noynoy Aquino, and asked Filipinos to pray for him together.

Vice President Leni Robredo, who ran under Aquino's then-ruling party when elected in 2016, said it was heartbreaking to hear of his death.

"He tried to do what was right, even when it wasn't popular. He worked calmly and tirelessly for the good of everyone. He will be missed," he recalled in a statement.

The Senate and House of Representatives in Manila on Thursday waved flags at half-mast as a sign of mourning.

In a statement, Senator Imee Marcos, the daughter of the late Marcos, paid tribute to Aquino for his kind and humble spirit. Imee said Noynoy's figure will be greatly missed.

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President Benigno Aquino with President Joko Widodo in 2015. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Communications Operations Office)
Child of Democracy

Known as one of the icons of Philippine democracy, the owner's full name Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III was born on February 8, 1960. His mother was the much-loved President of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino, who served from 1986 to 1992.

While his father, Benigno Aquino Jr. He was a senator and democracy activist who opposed the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, so he was shot and killed on his return from political exile in 1983.

Noynoy is the only son of the five children of the Filipino democratic couple. Like his parents, Noynoy was able to win people's hearts with his image as an anti-corruption fighter, elevating the Philippine economy as well as 'healing' the nickname 'Asian Sick Man' for the country.

During his six-year term that began in 2010, the country's long history of junk debt status came to an end. Economic growth in these six years averaged 6.0 percent annually, the highest since the 1970s.

As president, Aquino took a firm stand against tax evaders and launched criminal cases against former officials, including his predecessor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her family and allies.

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Benigno Aquino. (Wikimedia Commons/Paolo Villanueva)

His anti-corruption crusade is based on the goodwill generated by his family name and reputation for honesty in a country where corruption is rampant.

Interestingly, Noynoy chose to remain single throughout his life, despite being linked several times with film stars, journalists and former Ms. Universe.

Another interesting fact, Noynoy lives with a piece of shrapnel in his neck, after five shots wound him and killed three bodyguards in the coup against his mother's government in 1987.

His political career began as a Member of Congress then became a Senator in the Philippine Congress for 11 years. The climax was when he was elected President of the Philippines in 2010-2016.

Noynoy returned to his private life after his term as President of the Philippines ended in 2016 and has rarely appeared in public since. According to local media reports, he had been unwell for the past two years and was hospitalized on Thursday morning before passing away.


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