PAGCOR director Carmen Pedrosa passes away

Carmen "Chit" Pedrosa, one of the directors of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), has passed away.

In a post on Facebook, PAGCOR said Pedrosa passed away on Wednesday, June 8, at the age of 80.

Malacañang, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed condolences to Pedrosa's family, friends, and colleagues.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Ms. Pedrosa as they find strength in this period of mourning," Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.

PAGCOR described Pedrosa as "a well-known book author, and a celebrated newspaper columnist" for the Philippine Star.

Pedrosa was appointed to her PAGCOR post by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 1, 2016.

Outgoing Senator Richard Gordon also mourned the passing of Pedrosa, whom he considered a "valued friend." 

"I am saddened with the loss of Carmen, a valued friend and a pillar in the journalism industry. Chit had been involved in journalism for over six decades, and that is where the two of us met, both of us full of optimism in hoping that our country would become its best self," Gordon said.

"[My wife] Kate and I express our deep condolences to the bereaved family, including Veronica, who had followed her footsteps in providing quality journalism to a world desperately needing correct information," he added. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK/VBL, GMA News