MANILA, Philippines — Former President Benigno S. Aquino III died “peacefully in his sleep” on Thursday morning, his family said.
“It is with profound grief that on behalf of our family, I am confirming that our brother Benigno ‘Noynoy’ S. Aquino III died peacefully in his sleep,” the family’s statement announced, as read by his sister, Pinky Aquino-Abellada.
“His death certificate pronounced his death at 6:30 a.m due to renal disease secondary to diabetes,” she added.
Aquino-Abellada said their brother had been “in and out” of the hospital even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Pribado siyang tao. Bago pa man ang pandemic, labas-masok na siya sa ospital,” she said, thanking the former president’s medical team “who gave him true respect by valuing and protecting his privacy.”
(He is a private individual. Even before the pandemic, he had been in and out of the hospital.)
“Sa lahat ng mga totoong kaibigan nya na walang palya siyang dinadalaw, tinetext, pinapadalhan ng pagkain, sinasamahan at pinoprotektahan siya – salamat.”
(To all his true friends who did not miss paying him a visit, texting him, sending him food, accompanying him and protecting him – thank you.)
President Benigno S. Aquino III. Photo by Ryan Lim
‘Mission accomplished’
Admitting how hard it would be to accept his passing, the Aquino family lauded Noynoy for his “mission accomplished.”
“No words can express how broken our hearts are and how long it will take for us to accept the reality that he is gone,” Aquino-Abellada said.
“Mission accomplished, Noy. Be happy now with Dad and Mom. We love you and we are so blessed to have had the privilege to have had you as our brother. We’ll miss you forever,” she continued.
The former president remained quiet even when he was being attacked and ridiculed publicly – something their family admitted feeling hurt about.
“Masakit para sa amin na tahimik niyang tinanggap ang mga batikos. Natatak sa aming magkakapatid na nung sinabihan namin siyang magsalita at labanan ang mga maling haka-haka, simple ang sinagot niya. Kaya pa niyang matulog sa gabi,” Aquino-Abellada said.
(It hurt us that he quietly accepted all criticisms. It struck his siblings when we told him to speak out and fight against the wrong hearsays, but his answer was simple. He can still sleep soundly at night.)
She also thanked all supporters who trusted her brother by electing him in public office: “Habang buhay namin tatanawin na utang na loob ‘yung naibigay ninyo sa aming kapatid. Maraming salamat.”
(For the rest of our lives, we will be in debt of gratitude for what you have given to our brother. Thank you very much.)
Aquino, the only son of late former president Corazon C. Aquino and late former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., served as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines from June 30, 2010, to June 30, 2016.
His first crack at politics was in 1998, after winning a seat in the House of Representatives as congressman of the province’s second district. He represented Tarlac in Congress for three terms.
He then became a senator from 2007-2010 and chaired the Senate committee on local government. He was also vice-chairperson of the Senate committee on justice and human rights.
KGA
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