PNoy’s uncle Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco dies

By XIANNE ARCANGEL, GMA News

Published May 12, 2015 11:46am

(Updated 1:27 p.m.) Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco, uncle of President Benigno Aquino III, died Tuesday morning at the age of 74.

Cojuangco’s death was confirmed by House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, who said the lawmaker died of aneurysm.

A separate tweet by the House Media Relations Service said Cojuangco expired at The Medical City.

Rep. Enrique "Henry" Cojuangco (1st Dist., Tarlac) died of an aneurysm early this morning at the Medical City. He was 74.

— HRep MRS (@MRSnewsfeeds) May 12, 2015

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said based on information they received, Cojuangco was rushed to the hospital after he “felt something in his stomach” while at home.

Belmonte said he and Gonzales last talked to Cojuangco Monday night during a meeting of House leaders.

“In fact, he asked the Majority Floor Leader for updates about the Fair Competition bill,” he said.

As chair of the House committee on economic affairs, Cojuangco pushed for the legislation of House Bill 5286 or the proposed Philippine Competition Law, which seeks to abolish unfair trade practices and monopolies.

NPC contingent chair

Cojuangco, along with Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, led the contingent of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the House. He is also chair of the House committee on economic affairs.

He is a brother of businessman and San Miguel Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco. The Cojuangco brothers are uncles of Gilberto, former defense secretary and defeated presidential bet in the 2010 elections.

Enrique Cojuangco is a first cousin of the late President Corazon Aquino, the incumbent president's mother. He won the congressional seat in the first district of Tarlac in the 2010 and 2013 elections.

Belmonte expressed sadness at Cojuangco’s demise and said the House will miss the Tarlac lawmaker.

“We’ll surely miss him. He was very friendly to every member of Congress regardless of political affiliation,” he said.

Palace sends sympathies

After receiving information from the House Speaker's office on Cojuangco's passing away, Malacañang extended its condolences to the late lawmaker's family.

In a statement, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. also lauded Cojuangco for his hard work and dedication as a congressman.

"We convey our deepest condolences to his bereaved family. Representative Cojuangco served for two terms and was known and admired for his professionalism and dedication to public service," Coloma s —KG/RSJ/NB, GMA News

Tags: enriquecojuangco