Rene Cruz, Phil. Olympic Committee ex-prez; 85

Former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rene Cruz passed away on Wednesday morning after a heart attack. He was 85.

A retired police general, Cruz served as POC vice president in 1989 before taking over the leadership of the local Olympic body from 1993 to 1996. It was under the term of the former badminton association head that the country won its last Olympic medal—a silver courtesy of boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco during the 1996 Atlanta Games.

“It’s the legacy that he left behind. He’s one of the best leaders that we had,” said POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros, a top bowling official and POC treasurer during the term of Cruz.

The wake is at Loyola Memorial Chapels in Sucat, Parañaque City. Cremation will be on Oct. 3.