Press Secretary Remonde dies at 51

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, a staunch defender of President Arroyo, died Tuesday following a heart attack, officials said. He was 51.

Remonde was found unconscious and "slumped inside the bathroom" of his home and was rushed to the Makati Medical Center where doctors failed to revive him, according to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. 

Remonde wasn't breathing and had no pulse and heart beat when he was brought into the emergency room, hospital spokesman Dr. Eric Nubla said. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. 

There was no immediate comment from Mrs. Arroyo. 

Remonde was a radio commentator and head of the Philippine broadcasters' association before joining the Arroyo government as press undersecretary in 2001 and head of the Government Mass Media Group, which oversees state radio and television stations and news agency. 

In 2006, he was chief of the presidential management staff until his appointment as press secretary early last year.

"Indeed this is a very big loss," said Ermita, the most senior Cabinet official. "He is a very, very close confidant of the president — that is how important his job was."