Family, friends remember Cory Aquino on fifth death anniversary

Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III and three of his sisters attended a mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of their mother and former president Corazon C. Aquino, according to accounts on Twitter.

Former president Corazon C. Aquino and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.’s tomb. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

Aquino, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Viel Aquino-Dee, Kris Aquino and other members of the first family, were joined by Cabinet officials and the President’s political allies in a mass led by Father Catalino Arevalo, a family friend of the Aquinos.

Among the Cabinet secretaries who attended were Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., Rehabilitation Czar Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Franklin Drilon.

In Manila, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada offered flowers before the Cory Aquino Memorial Shrine along Roxas Boulevard beside her husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.’s statue.

It can be recalled that in 2001, Mrs. Aquino was among the political leaders who supported the ouster of Estrada for graft and corruption.

Mrs. Aquino died of colon cancer on Aug. 1, 2009.

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