MANILA, Philippines—Cavite Provincial Prosecutor Emmanuel “Manny” Velasco passed away early Monday morning at age 54.
Prosecutor General Claro Arellano confirmed that Velasco succumbed to heart attack.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Velasco was a great loss to the people of Cavite, the National Prosecution Service and the Department of Justice as a whole.
“His reputation for being dedicated especially about his duties as a public servant, preceded him. He appeared to be the type who didn’t let the unpopularity of a particular decision or action deter him from doing what he believed was right…As we lament the death of our colleague, we likewise send our deepest condolences to the loved ones and friends he has left behind,” De Lima said in a statement.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Divine Grace Hospital in General Trias Cavite.
His body will be brought to the St. Francis Memorial Homes in Cavite.
Before becoming a lawyer, he was a reporter for Malaya.
He was the son of former National Bureau of Investigation Director Epimaco Velasco.
Velasco most recently handled the election stand-off between the Cavite police and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation at the residence of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in Bacoor City.
Cavite 1st Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Onofre Maranan takes over the post until the Department of Justice appoints a new prosecutor for Cavite. With a report from Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon