PNoy didn't buzz the whole night, driver tells how he was found

Former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was found peacefully sitting on his recliner chair on Thursday morning, the same position where his companions at home left him the night before.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras,” Aquino's long-time driver Nory Mariano said he woke up at 5 a.m. on Thursday and immediately checked the former leader's condition.

“Sabi nung nagbabantay, okay naman, hindi naman nag buzzer. Si Yolly, nag bilin daw yata sa kanya, ‘yung pinaka-yaya niya, na mag-breakfast siya ng umaga. So pumasok niya, tatanong niya sana kung anong breakfast,” he said.

(The guard said that it was okay, he didn’t buzz the whole night. Yolly said she went in the room to ask what he wanted to eat.)

“Ngayon, biglang lumabas, pinuntahan ako ni Yolly, sabi niya Kuya Nory baka pwedeng mong puntahan si sir kasi kung papaano ko siya iniwan kagabi, ganoon din ngayong umaga. Nasa Lazy Boy siya nakaupo,” he added.

Mariano said Aquino was no longer breathing. They then immediately called his doctor, who sent an ambulance.

Their fears were confirmed upon arrival at the Capitol Medical Center. Aquino had passed away at 61.

For nephew  Miguel Aquino-Abellada, he last saw Aquino on Father’s Day.

Abellada said that though his uncle was happy, they could see that he was having a difficult time due to his illness.

“Yung action niya for the week was papaayos niya, papa-tune up niya ‘yung mga kotse niya dahil he planned to go to Baguio, Tarlac, or Tagaytay to relax soon,” he said.

“Tapos ‘yun, after two hours, medyo napagod na siya kasi he was sitting up. Humingi siya ng paumanhin sa amin and then sabi niya, medyo hirap na siya, so he went back and we had left,” he added.

Aquino succumbed to renal disease secondary to diabetes.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News