Former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III passed away on Thursday, just 5 years after he stepped down from office, according to a member of the family who asked not to be named pending official announcement.
A cousin told reporters that the former President was undergoing dialysis when he had a heart attack.
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Aquino was 61 years old. He had been largely silent and out of the public eye since the end of his presidency.
Multiple reports have confirmed the news, citing several sources. Summit Media news site reporter has confirmed his death, and has been told to wait for an official announcement from the family. A Philippine Star report claims that Aquino was rushed to Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City this morning.
Aquino was the 15th president of the Philippines, winning 42 percent of the vote during the 2010 presidential elections, around 15 percentage points above his closest rival, former president Joseph Estrada.
His presidency was marked with sustained economic growth, as the country rebounded from the global recession to achieve investment grade status in 2013 and a consistent 6.2 percent uptick in GDP.