Boncodin dies of cardiac arrest

MANILA, Philippines - Former Budget secretary Emilia Boncodin died of cardiac arrest yesterday at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City. She was 55.

In a medical bulletin, NKTI executive director Dr. Enrique Ona said Boncodin passed away at 2:05 p.m.

Ona said Boncodin was rushed to the NKTI last March 10 “for difficulty of breathing and anemia and was diagnosed to be on end-stage renal disease after her kidney transplant done on Feb. 3, 2005 went into chronic rejection and had completely failed to function.”

The transplant was performed months before Boncodin, along with nine other Cabinet secretaries, resigned to protest the involvement of President Arroyo and some of her officials in corruption cases. The group, later called the Hyatt 10 because they announced their resignation at the Hyatt Hotel in Pasay City, demanded Mrs. Arroyo also step down in July 2005 in the wake of the “Hello, Garci” scandal.

After her resignation, Boncodin was named board member of Petron Corp.

The nine officials who resigned with Boncodin were Florencio Abad of Education, Corazon Soliman of Social Welfare, Rene Villa of Agrarian Reform, Imelda Nicolas of National Anti-Poverty Commission, Cesar Purisima of Finance, Juan Santos of Trade and Industry, Alberto Lina of Customs, Guillermo Parayno of Internal Revenue and peace adviser Teresita Deles.

Passing mourned

President Arroyo mourned the death of Boncodin and is expected to pay her last respects to her former budget chief.

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said Mrs. Arroyo is extending her condolences to Boncodin’s family and loved ones.

“We are deeply saddened at the passing of our esteemed former budget secretary and governance educator Emilia Boncodin,” presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said in a statement.

“In her decades of public service, Secretary Boncodin was widely respected for her dedication, integrity and professionalism,” Saludo said.

He said Boncodin “exemplified the lofty ideals of our government service... she will be sorely missed.”

Olivar described Boncodin as “a true professional and a recognized expert in budgets and public finance, and played a key role especially in the fiscal reforms initiated during the initial years of the administration.”

Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Sen. Mar Roxas expressed “deep sorrow” for the death of “a reformer.” 

“My deepest sympathies to her family,” Roxas said.

“Emy was a good friend. Her passing robs our nation of a bright mind who remained loyal to her principles of good governance and efficient government,” he added. – With Aurea Calica and Paolo Romero