Duterte visits wake of Henry Sy Sr.

President Rodrigo Duterte (left) talks to members of the family of Henry Sy Sr. at his wake at the Heritage in Taguig City on Sunday night, Jan. 20, 2019. Malacañang Photo

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte visited Sunday night the wake of taipan Henry Sy Sr.,  the country’s wealthiest man, at the Heritage in Taguig City.

Duterte arrived at 10:50 p.m. to pay his last respects to the business tycoon.

Duterte was accompanied by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

Sy’s children, SM investment Corporation vice chairperson Teresita Sy Coson, SM Prime Holdings chairman Hans Sy, SM Prime director Herbert Sy, SM Investments board adviser Elizabeth Sy, SM Investments executive director Harley Sy, and SM Development Corporation chief executive officer Henry Sy Jr. welcomed the President and the government officials.

Sy, 94, died Saturday morning

In a statement, Malacañang called billionaire Sy as a “pillar of the Philippine economy.

READ: Palace hails Henry Sy Sr. as ‘pillar of the Philippine economy’

“Mr. Sy exemplified the hardworking Filipino. As a family man, he had moulded his children into his own image: humble, hardworking and a man of prophetic vision,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

“Mr. Sy was a visionary and a pillar of the Philippine economy who believed in the potentials and opportunities of the country, and pursued them with dedication, passion, and hard work till their fruition. Mr. Sy boldly took the business path which Filipino businessmen feared to tread,” he added. /cbb