Locsin grieves passing of ‘incorruptible’ ex-president Noynoy Aquino

(FILE) Former President Benigno S. Aquino III talks to members of the media on the sidelines of an indignation run for the 1,000th day of “unjust detention” of his justice secretary, Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, in Quezon City. Darryl John Esguerra/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — “He wasn’t fond of me but I could not bring myself not to admire him.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. had this to say Thursday as he grieved the passing of former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

“I’m out of Twitter from grief over the death of a sea-green incorruptible, brave under armed attack, wounded in crossfire, indifferent to power and its trappings, and ruled our country with a puzzling coldness but only because he hid his feelings so well it was thought he had none,” Locsin said in a tweet.

I’m out of Twitter from grief over the death of a sea-green incorruptible, brave under armed attack, wounded in crossfire, indifferent to power and its trappings, and ruled our country with a puzzling coldness but only because he hid his feelings so well it was thought he had

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 24, 2021

In his series of tweets, Locsin also honored Aquino’s mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino. To recall, Locsin served as the Aquino matriarch’s legal counsel and speechwriter.

“It was the way he and his siblings were raised by a great woman—their mother and of our restored democracy (without her none in power yesterday and today would be),” Locsin said.

“She created the democratic space that made it possible. She believed that one must never let oneself go no matter the occasion or provocation,” he added.

Locsin further said:  “I beg his sisters to allow me the honor to share their grief. He wasn’t fond of me but I could not bring myself not to admire him.”

Aquino was elected as president of the Philippines in the 2010 elections and served as chief executive until 2016.