Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino, the son of two of the Southeast Asian country's democracy icons, died on Thursday after being hospitalised in Manila. The cause of his death was not immediately clear, but he had been hospitalised earlier on Thursday. The Aquino family was expected to issue a statement later in the day. Vice President Leni Robredo, who ran under the then Aquino-led ruling party when elected in 2016, said it was "heart-breaking" to hear of his death. In a statement, Senator Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator, paid tribute to Aquino for his "kind and simple soul" and said he would be deeply missed.

Source: Daily Nation June 24, 2021 05:48 UTC