Supporters line up ahead of public viewing of ex-Pres. Noynoy Aquino's wake

Hours before the wake of the late President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is opened to the public, a line of supporters has already formed outside Gate 3 of the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City.

According to James Agustin's report on Unang Balita on Friday, the public viewing of the wake will be held at the Church of the Gesu inside the university from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A private arrival ceremony will be held before the public viewing. Gates will be opened at 9:45 a.m.

Many of those in line were clad in white and yellow, the color associated with Aquino's Liberal Party.

Social distancing was observed on the line amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Health and safety protocols would also be strictly implemented at the viewing. Visitors have to fill out a contract tracing form.

Aquino, 61, died on Thursday morning. His remains were cremated later in the day and would be buried on Saturday.

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.

Before holding the highest 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 Upper House from 2007 to 2010.

Aquino is the only son of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and the late President Corazon Aquino. —KBK, GMA News