Ex-Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino dies of renal disease secondary to diabetes

Benigno Aquino III

Former Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" C. Aquino III died on hospital on Thursday at the age of 61.

Aquino served as the country’s 15th president from 2010 to 2016, and was succeeded in office by the incumbent, Rodrigo Duterte.

In their family's official statement read by Pinky Aquino-Abellada, they confirmed that Noynoy passed away peacefully while he was asleep.

They said the death certificate showed that at 6:30 a.m. this June 24, their brother passed away due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.

"It is with profound relief that on behalf of our family, I am confirming that our brother- Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III, died peacefully in his sleep. His death certificate announced his death at 6:30 A.M due to renal disease secondary to diabetes,” Pinky said.

The bereaved siblings of former President “Noynoy” Aquino admitted that even before the coronavirus pandemic, he were often hospitalized.

Known popularly as Noynoy, he rode a wave of public emotion all the way to the presidency after his mother Corazon Aquino died in 2009.

She herself was president from 1986 until 1992.

His father was a key opposition figure who was assassinated in 1983 upon his return from political exile.

In 2013 Aquino had to deal with the devastation left by typhoon "Yolanda," one of the most powerful storms to hit the country.  That same year his clean image was tainted by scandals over lawmakers misuse of public funds.

He also faced criticism when in his fifth year in office 44 commanders were killed in he Mamasapano clash, a botched operation to capture a wanted Malaysian militant.