PNoy aunt dies after collapsing during brother's funeral service

Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes, the aunt of President Benigno Aquino III, died on Tuesday after collapsing during the funeral service for her elder brother Don Pedro Cojuangco, who died last week. Reyes died at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Global City, Taguig, where she was rushed after she collapsed, according to presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. Lacierda said Aquino learned about his aunt’s death from his sister Ma. Elena “Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz. No details about the funeral and interment arrangement were available as of posting time. At the time of her death, Reyes was chairperson of Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Board of Trustees. Both Aquino and Reyes were present at the interment of 84-year-old Cojuangco at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Makati City. Cojuangco died last July 20 due to cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure at the Makati Medical Center. Reyes, who served as the seventh president of the FEU from 1985 to 1989, was the older sister of Aquino’s mother, the late president Corazon Aquino, and widow of Nicanor Reyes Jr., also a former FEU president. She is the second of the six siblings that also include Pedro, the late Teresita Cojuangco-Lopa, Jose “Peping" Cojuangco Jr., and Maria Paz Cojuangco-Teopaco. Reyes was the board director and vice president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac, and president of the Luisita Realty Corporation. — KBK, GMA News