MANILA, Philippines - An aunt of President Aquino collapsed while delivering a eulogy for her brother Pedro Cojuangco and died at the hospital, Malacañang reported yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda disclosed that the President and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad were at the funeral service for Aquino’s uncle when his aunt, Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes, “fainted” while speaking about her brother.
Lacierda said Cojuangco-Reyes was rushed to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City from Santuario de San Antonio at Forbes Park in Makati City where the funeral service was being held.
Aquino’s sister, Maria Elena “Ballsy” Cruz, informed the President through a telephone call that their aunt died.
Pedro is the eldest brother of Aquino’s mother, former president Corazon Aquino, while Josephine is her eldest sister.
Cojuangco-Reyes was a Filipino educator and served as the seventh president of the Far Eastern University in Manila from 1985 to 1989.
She was married to Nicanor Reyes, Jr., who also used to be president of FEU.