Ex-Senate President Ernesto Maceda dies at 81

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 3 9:50 p.m.) — Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda has died past 8 p.m. Monday due to multiple organ failure. He was 81.

Earlier, the veteran lawmaker's family announced that he was in critical condition.

Ernesto Maceda Jr., the former senator's son, said in an interview over Radio dzBB that his father had been experiencing chest pains in recent weeks and had to undergo surgery.

"My father is still receiving medical care," he said earlier afternoon correcting initial reports that his father has died. "The family expects that we can make an announcement tonight."  

Earlier Maceda family spokesperson Jimmy Policarpio said that Maceda underwent gall bladder surgery two days ago. He noted that the former senator also underwent heart bypass surgery in 1992.

"Siguro gawa ng masyadong napagod noong eleksyon sapagkat napaka-personal ng pagtakbo ng kanyang anak," Policarpio said in an interview over dzBB. Policarpio asked the public to respect the Maceda family's privacy.

A columnist for the Philippine STAR, Maceda served as Senate president from 1996 to 1998 under the term of former President Fidel Ramos. He was also the secretary of Commerce and Industry (1970 to 1971) and executive secretary (1969 to 1970) under the late President Ferdinand Marcos. He served as Philippine ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2001.  — Patricia Lourdes Viray and Levi So