(Eagle News) — Malacanang on Tuesday offered its condolences to the family of Arturo Macapagal, the elder brother of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was supposed to visit his brother in the hospital in the afternoon.
“We extend our condolences to the bereaved family of Mr. Macapagal,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement.
Secretary Coloma noted that “the nation lost an outstanding Olympian and a respected business leader with the passing of (Art) Macapagal.”
“He is a recognized leader in the automotive industry and is a staunch supporter of various socio-civic organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and Scholarship Foundation for the Filipino Youth, where he served as chairman,” he said.
Macapagal died at the Makati Medical Center early Tuesday due to prostate cancer, ahead of the 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. visit which had been allowed by the Sandiganbayan for the former president.
According to radio reports, Mr. Macapagal, 72, passed away 6:40 a.m. Tuesday at the Makati Medical Center. He had been confined in the hospital’s intensive care unit since July 2.
The Pampanga congresswoman has been under hospital arrest at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center since October 2012 for a plunder case. The plunder case stemmed from charges that she allowed the diversion or misuse of more than P300 funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) when she was president.
Arroyo asked the Sandiganbayan for a furlough to visit her brother last Friday. The request was granted on Monday.
Macapagal, the son of former president Diosdado Macapagal and his first wife Purita de la Rosa, and half-brother of former president Arroyo, had represented the country in the 1972 Munich and the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. He also held the national record in Olympic free pistol shooting for more than 21 years. (PND)