MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE) One of the founding members of the Rebolusyonaryong Makabayan (RAM) and the Guardian Brotherhood Inc. passed away last night after almost three years at the hospital. He was 59.

Colonel Billy Bibit has been confined with the Veterans Hospital since November 30, 2006 because of a stroke, according to Mary ?Rosebud? Ong, government witness against Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Records from the hospital say he left the hospital against medical advice at around 2 in the morning of October 25, 2009.

His body lies at the Heritage Park in Fort Bonifacio.

Bibit was closely associated with Senator Gregorio Honasan, former Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 chief Tiburcio Fusillero and incumbent PRO 7 chief Director Avelino Razon Jr.

He also had links with the 1989 coup plotters Commodore Domingo Calajati (Navy), General Jose Comendador (Air Force), Colonel Alexander Noble (Army), Captain Proceso Maligalig (Navy), Lieutenant Colonel Romelino Gojo (Marines), Major Abraham Puruganan (Army), Lieutenant Colonel Diosdado Tabano (Army), Brigadier General Edgardo Abenina (Constabulary), Captain Danilo Pizarro, Captain Fermin Cuizon, Captain Turingan, and Lieutenant Colonel Reynaldo Ochosa.

Bibit is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1972.

In 1986, he became head of the Bureau of Customs Investigation and Prosecution division.

However, he left the government after he figured in seven coups d?etat against then President Corazon Aquino.

He also ran for Congress in 1992 but lost. A movie was also made on his life.

In 2001, he returned to the government after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed him commissioner for the Caraga region of the Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau.