Asia-Pacific
Philippine press secretary dies at home
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-19 15:00
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MANILA: Philippine Press Secretary Cerge Remonde died at a Manila hospital Tuesday noon, hours after he was found unconscious at home and rushed to the hospital.
Remonde, 51, was declared dead by doctors of Makati Medical Center at 11:51 a.m. Tuesday (0351 GMT), officials said. The hospital has yet disclosed the exact cause of the death though heart attack was cited by local media as a possible cause.
Remonde's personal doctor said there were no signs of life- threatening health conditions before Remonde was found unconscious at his residence in downtown Manila Tuesday morning.
"We are all in grief with the passing of our beloved friend. The president has been informed," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a text message sent to reporters.
A former radio commentator, Remonde was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as press undersecretary in 2001 and was promoted to the top press official post in 2009. Remonde was born in the central city of Cebu and established his career as a promising broadcast reporter there before joining the government.
