MANILA, Philippines -- Batasan Pambansa assemblyman Rafael Recto, son of nationalist Claro M. Recto and father of former senator Ralph Recto, has passed away, according to a staff member of the younger Recto. He was 76.

Bright Liwanag said the older Recto?s remains would be cremated at 3 p.m. after a mass at the Loyola Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati City. She said the urn would be taken to the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park.

Recto died in his home at the Green Meadows Subdivision in Quezon City at 8:45 p.m. Monday from multiple organ failure following a lingering illness, former congressman Ricky Recto was quoted as saying over radio dzMM.

The report said Recto was diagnosed in 1994 with aortic aneurism, a heart ailment.

Recto is survived by his wife Carmen; children Ricky, Ralph, Plinky, Rafaelito, Marissa, Pixie, Caloy, and Ramon, and their spouses; grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. A daughter-in-law is Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, Liwanag said.

Liwanag said that in the former unicameral legislature, Recto was a member of the opposition representing Batangas province. "He distinguished himself in exposing the irregularities surrounding the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant."

A lawyer by profession, the late assemblyman was also into sports -- as national rapid fire pistol shooting champion for many years, earning him berths in the Philippine team to the Tokyo and Munich Olympics, and in several Asian and Southeast Asian games, she added.