Ex-NBI chief Epimaco Velasco passes away

MANILA, Philippines—Epimaco Velasco, a multi-titled government official, passed away Monday morning.

His daughter Vina Velasco-Javier said her father was rushed to the Divine Grace Hospital in General Trias Cavite and died of heart attack at 8:30 a.m. He was 78.

Velasco served as director of the National Bureau of Investigation from 1992 to 1995, Cavite governor from 1995 to 1998 and Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary from Feb. 4 to May 30, 1998.

Velasco’s tenure in the NBI was made into a movie in 1997 and he was portrayed by film icon Fernando Poe Jr.

His son, Cavite Provincial Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, also died of heart attack in 2013.

Velasco’s remains were brought to the Funeraria Paz Monday for viewing until Wednesday. Then the wake would be transferred to Cavite Capitol on Thursday and eventually to Pastoral Chapel in Tanza on Saturday.

His remains would be cremated on Sunday.