Benigno Simeon Aquino III , Former President of the Philippines Is Dead at 61

Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino died at the age of 61 on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of the United States.

Philippine media reported that Aquino was taken to a hospital in Manila on Thursday morning.

Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin posted on his twitter “sadness at the death of a loyal man”.

As for the cause of death, the New York Times reported that one of his sisters, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, confirmed his death. The cause, she said, was “renal disease secondary to diabetes.”

Aquino, he predecessor of current President Rodrigo Duterte, led during his tenure an anti-corruption program and implemented important economic reforms.