‘I knew Noynoy as a kind and simple soul’: Former critics condole with death of ex-president Noynoy Aquino
Critics of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Simeon Aquino III, who passed away June 24 according to sources, have offered their condolences.
Aquino, who served as the country’s 15th president from 2010 to 2016, had his fair share of critics and political nemeses during his term.
Former Vice President Jejomar Binay, who clashed with Aquino in a number of instances before, tweeted his condolences.
"Noynoy and I may have had political differences during the last few years of his term, but that will not diminish the many years of friendship between our families," Binay said.
Noynoy and I may have had political differences during the last few years of his term, but that will not diminish the many years of friendship between our families.
— Jejomar C. Binay (@JojoCBinay) June 24, 2021
My deepest condolences to the family. Godspeed, Pareng Noy.
Binay also posted a throwback photo of him and the former president on his Facebook page.
Senator Imee Marcos also paid tribute to Aquino in a statement. “For beyond politics and much public acrimony, I knew Noynoy as a kind and simple soul. He will be deeply missed,” she wrote on Facebook.
Noynoy and Imee are members of the prominent Aquino and Marcos families. Noynoy's namesake father was a political nemesis of Imee's father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, and was assassinated when he returned from political exile in 1983.
Kabataan Party-list National Spokesperson Raoul Manuel stressed on a Twitter thread that there’s a right time to bring up Aquino’s weaknesses during his term.
Kahit tama ang point, may tamang panahon para i-bring up ito.
— Raoul Manuel (@iamRaoulManuel) June 24, 2021
“While walang mali na pag-usapan ang administrasyon at legacy ni PNoy, dapat ding pag-ingatan paano ito gagawin,” Manuel added.
Activist leader Renato Reyes Jr. also extended his condolences to the Aquino family on Twitter.
We extend our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of former President Benigno Aquino III. May he rest in peace and may those close to him find comfort during this difficult time. And may our nation be blessed with the peace that we have long fought for.
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) June 24, 2021
“May our nation be blessed with the peace that we have long fought for,” Reyes added.
Aquino is the only son of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Corazon “Cory” Aquino, who the 11th president of the Philippines after the People Power Revolution in 1986.
(This is a developing story)
Banner and thumbnail photos by Val Rodriguez/The Philippine STAR
