MANILA, Philippines — The founder of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) died Tuesday after battling pneumonia. He was 94.
In a tweet, Focap said Gabino “Gaby” Tabunar Jr. passed away at 1:59 p.m. at the Makati Medical Center.
Gabino “Gaby” Tabunar Jr.,
FOCAP founder, 94.
Gabino Tabunar Jr., “Gaby” to us all and one of the country’s most respected journalists, passed away at 1:59pm today at the Makati Medical Center, after a bout with pneumonia. He was 94.
(1) pic.twitter.com/UfskN5vHb7
— FOCAP (@FOCAP2020) February 4, 2020
Focap said Tabunar, along with late journalist Teddy Benigno, who was bureau chief of the Agence France Presse in Manila, founded Focap in 1974 to fight for press freedom amid the dark days of dictatorship during Martial Law.
Tabunar was also a “long-time correspondent” for America’s CBS News, Focap said.
Tabunar’s wake will be held at Loyola Guadalupe in Guadalupe, Makati City, starting Wednesday, February 5.