Former PH president Benigno Aquino III dies at 61
The Philippines is mourning the death of former president Benigno Aquino III who passed away in his sleep due to renal disease at age 61.
Known popularly as Noynoy, Aquino served as the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016 and the only son of late democracy figures former president Corazon Aquino and former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
During his presidency, Aquino backed economic reforms and worked to curb corruption and end poverty in the country, embracing a campaign for good governance known as “Dang Matuwid” (the righteous path).
Under his administration, the Philippine economy grew by an average of 6.2% and was hailed as the fastest-growing economy in Asia.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared a 10-day mourning period for Aquino wherein the national flag shall be flown in half-mast on all government buildings and installations throughout the Philippines and abroad for ten days, from sunrise to sunset.
