PHAPi president Dr. Rustico A. Jimenez, 72, dies

The Private Hospitals Association of the Phils., Inc. (PHAPi) on Thursday announced the passing of its president, Dr. Rustico A. Jimenez.

In a statement, PHAPi described Jimenez as its "warrior-leader" and an
"irreplaceable defender and advocate of the rights of private hospitals."

"The Association will surely miss his leadership of fourteen years as he gallantly steered the PHAPi to excellent service to its members," the group said. 

"The Association condoles with his family for the loss of a loving father," it added.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Jimenez's son, Jeff, said his father was 72 years old and would have turned 73 in December.

Jeff described his father as hardworking who even participated in a webinar with medical frontliners recently.

Jeff also said they noticed that his father was feeling weak in the past few days prior to this death.

"Si daddy po talaga, tahimik lang siya, hindi siya mahilig mag-complain," he said.

"Pero dito sa bahay, ang napansin namin ho, siguro mga isang linggo, napansin namin medyo nanghihina po siya, medyo mas mabagal na siya maglakad," he added.

The Department of Health also (DOH) also mourned the death of its “active partner.”

"The DOH joins the medical community in mourning the death of Dr. Rustico Jimenez. [He] was a neurologist, a frontliner, an active partner of the DOH, and a staunch supporter of the private hospital sector," it said in a statement.

PHAPi is an association composed of administrators of several private hospitals in the country that was formed on March 13, 1979.  — with Julia Mari Ornedo/KBK, GMA News