Former health chief Romualdez dies at 73

MANILA, Philippines - Former health secretary Alberto “Quasi” Romualdez died yesterday after a lingering illness. He was 73.

Surviving him are his wife Felicidad; two children and grandchildren.

Ted Herbosa, health undersecretary, said Romualdez, his brother-in-law, died from cardiac and renal failure.

“He was diagnosed with lymphoma over a month ago and was undergoing chemotherapy as outpatient, but he really had a heart condition,” he said. “The final cause of death is different complications of his illness.”

Last Saturday, Romualdez was taken to the Manila Doctors Hospital after suffering a heart attack.

He died shortly after noon yesterday.

Herbosa said Romualdez continued to advocate for universal health care, reproductive health, and the passage of anti-smoking and sin tax laws.

“He advocated for the Reproductive Health Bill even during the early years of the proposed measure, attended every hearing until after he became sick,” he said.

“It’s just sad that he never saw that Supreme Court’s final ruling on the said law.”

Herbosa said people will  remember Romualdez as among the few Cabinet secretaries who had stayed with President Joseph  Estrada during EDSA 2 .