Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, the son of pro-democracy icons who helped topple dictator Ferdinand Marcos and a defender of good governance who took China's sweeping territorial claims to an international court, has died. He was 61.
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Aquino's family told a news conference that he died in his sleep early Thursday due to "renal failure secondary to diabetes."
A former Cabinet official, Rogelio Singson, said Aquino had been undergoing dialysis and was preparing for a kidney transplant.
"Mission accomplished Noy, be happy now with Dad and Mom," said Pinky Aquino-Abellada, a sister of the late president, using his nickname and struggling to hold back her tears.
Condolences poured in from political leaders such as US President Joe Biden and Aquino's successor Rodrigo Duterte and the dominant Catholic Church. Philippine flags were lowered at half-staff on government buildings.
