Breaking News
Fatal heart attack claims Remonde, 51
January 30, 2010 7:00 PM
Press Secretary and chief spokesman for President Arroyo Cerge Remonde died yesterday morning after suffering a major heart attack. He was 51.
Palace reporters said Remonde was scheduled to meet them at noon for a routine press conference at Malacañang when they got a message that he was rushed to the Makati Medical Center (MMC).
Doctors failed to revive him just minutes after he was rushed to the hospital unconscious around 11:20 a.m. by his household help.
Remonde was reportedly found slumped on the floor inside his bathroom by one of his drivers, Emmanuel Arcenas, in his house at Bel-Air Village in Makati.
“Remonde was brought to the emergency department of Makati Medical Center at about 11:20 a.m. He was unconscious, not breathing, and his heart was not beating. Attempts were made to resuscitate him but despite heroic measures, he expired at 11:51 a.m.,” Dr. Eric Nubla, attending physician of Remonde at the MMC, told reporters.
Dr. Anthony Leachon, Remonde’s personal cardiologist, arrived shortly at the MMC after receiving a call about the incident and it was he who had relayed to reporters the initial finding on the cause of his death.
“I think it was cardiac arrest secondary to myocardial infraction. He could have had irregular heartbeat which became the cause of his death,” Leachon was quoted as saying over the state-run radio dzRB.
Leachon, who has been Remonde’s personal physician since 2007, said Remonde has had a history of illnesses which may have also worsened the condition of his heart.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar Remonde’s remains lie in state at the Heritage Memorial Park in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Olivar said Remonde’s remains would be brought to Malacañang on Thursday, where a necrological service would be held.
He also said that Remonde’s body will be flown to his hometown in Argao, Cebu on Friday.
Remonde assumed the post of Press Secretary in February 2009, after serving as director general of the Presidential Management Staff for more than two years. He joined the administration of President Arroyo in 2001 and worked in various government-owned media agencies including NBN 4, RPN 9, IBC 13, Radyo ng Bayan, Bureau of Communication Services, and the Philippine News Agency.
Olivar said Philippine Information Agency director Conrado Limcaoco Jr. has been appointed by President Arroyo to take over Remonde’s post. Limcaoco is also the Supervising Secretary of the Philippines News Agency (PNA).
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita added Arroyo was deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely passing away of Secretary Remonde.
”As one of the Cabinet officials who worked directly and closely with the President, Secretary Remonde was one of this Administration’s most competent, faithful and loyal stalwarts. His demise is indeed greatly felt,” Ermita added.
Leachon said, “According to his driver, this morning (yesterday) he had a radio interview and then after that he had his breakfast. He went upstairs and then he was handed a cigarette, and then after one hour—that’s 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.—he still hasn’t come out of his bathroom. So what happened was his driver went there and he was discovered no longer having a pulse beat. At about 11 a.m., they called for an ambulance. He was taken here at 11:15 am. The resuscitation by the Makati Medical Team started around 11:20 but nothing happened,” Leachon related.
Philippine Broadcasting System’s (PBS) Marie Peña-Ruiz, who is one of Remonde’s close friends, said they immediately went to Remonde’s home after they were alerted by his personal aides but by the time they arrived there, he was already being taken to the hospital.
She said Remonde had intestinal flu just last week but he still continued working to the point that he still managed to attend the Sinulog festival in his home province, Cebu, just this last weekend.
Former President Joseph Estrada said that Malacañang lost a very competent spokesman with the untimely death of Remonde.
“I was shocked to learn about the news,” Estrada said, adding that it was actually Remonde who escorted his return trip to the Palace ground some nine years after being ousted from power.
“He is a gentleman and a very competent spokesman. The Palace has lost one of the best press secretaries they ever had,” he said.
“He is a big loss to the administration and I send my condolences to his family,” Estrada said.
Vice President Noli de Castro, a fellow former media practitioner before joining politics, recalled Remonde as a Cabinet official who was always calm and composed even in the face of major odds.
“He is leaving behind a legacy of outstanding service to the government and to the media industry that shall serve as a lasting inspiration,” De Castro noted.
He said that even if Remonde was with the administration, he has always considered the official as very good friend.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed deep sadness over the passing away of his friend, Cerge Remonde whom he called a versatile and hardworking public official.
“My family and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Secretary Remonde. I lost both a friend and an esteemed colleague,” Puno said. “We were all shocked by his sudden passing and we will miss him greatly,” he said.
Sen. Loren Legarda said while Remonde had a most difficult job as spokesman of the administration, he had performed his task with flair, eloquence and dedication, providing the public with a clear and concise articulation of the viewpoints, positions and pronouncements of the administration.
Sen. Manuel Villar said as press secretary for barely a year, Remonde was able to put his personal stamp on how he performed the tasks and duties of a press secretary. This has endeared him to the people around him, particularly the press people, considering that he was a media practitioner himself before he joined the Cabinet.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said he may have had disagreements and the occasional exchanges on issues with Remonde but these were, to my mind, based on deeply-held principles.
He added that he admired Remonde for being the “voice of Cebu” even when he was already working for government after a long stint as a broadcaster and labor leader. With Jason Faustino.
Source: The Daily Tribune
