Duterte condoles with Aquino family via phone call with Ballsy, Kris -Bong Go

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended his condolences to the family of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III through a phone conversation with Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and actress Kris Aquino Thursday evening.

This was disclosed by Senator Bong Go in an interview with reporters after a seafarers' event in Manila Friday afternoon.

“Nakausap po ni Pangulo si Ma’am Ballsy at si Ma’am Kris kagabi. Ako rin po nakausap ko at nakiramay po kami,” Go said.

(The President and I have talked with Ma'am Ballsy and Ma'am Kris last night and we extended our sympathies to their family.)

In a text message to GMA News Online, Go said Duterte called Ballsy at around 11:00 p.m. and Kris at 11:30 p.m.

"Nakiramay po si Pangulo. (Tinanong) kung anong kailangan and (he is) ready to extend all courtesies," Go said.

(He asked them if they need anything and he said he is ready to extend all courtesies.)

Go, who had been Duterte’s special assistant since his days as mayor of Davao City, said the President and Aquino had been friends and they even supported Noynoy during the 2010 presidential elections.

“Marami po kaming memories, na magagandang memories, nu’ng kampanya and even until nung naging pangulo po siya ay magkaibigan po sila ni Pangulong Duterte,” Go said.

(We have a lot of good memories with him especially during the campaign and even until he (Aquino) became the country's president, Aquino and Duterte were friends.)

On Thursday afternoon, Duterte joined the nation in mourning the death of his predecessor, calling Aquino a true servant of the people.

Facing the media early Thursday evening, actress and television host Kris Aquino thanked Duterte and his Cabinet members for offering sincere condolences to their family.

"We would have wanted so much more for our brother.  Maraming salamat sa Malacañang dahil nag-reach out sila. Maraming salamat kay President Duterte doon sa kanyang sa nararamdaman naming sinseridad na pagcocondole sa pamilya namin," Aquino pointed out, in an interview with reporters in Taguig.

(Thank you Malacañang for reaching out to us. Thank you President Duterte for his sincere condolences to our family.)

"Thank you kay Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea dahil (because) he offered us everything that we wanted," she said.

On Thursday morning, Aquino was rushed to Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City.

According to a statement read by his sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada on Thursday afternoon at Heritage Park, Aquino was pronounced dead at 6:30 a.m. due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.

Abellada also said her brother had been in and out of hospital even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noynoy is the only son of democracy icons former President Corazon Aquino and slain opposition Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr.

He was the country's 15th president.

Before holding the highest elected position in the Philippines in 2010, Aquino served in the Legislative department. He represented Tarlac’s second district in the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007, after which he ran for senator and served in the Senate from 2007 to 2010.—AOL, GMA News