Actor Menggie Cobarrubias dies of suspected COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Award-winning actor Menggie Cobarrubias passed away this morning due to suspected novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), his niece Patricia Prudon confirmed on Facebook.

Prudon first posted that her uncle died "from battling NCOV-19," but later on said that they lost her uncle "from pneumonia complications."

"Still to confirm if NCOV-19 positive siya. Will keep everyone posted," she said. "My heart aches that I could not see him one last time. Rest in peace, Tito Menggie! We love you! Thank you for being a father, a lawyer, a general and a whole lot more roles to Philippine cinema. You will surely be missed. Ingat everyone. Stay at home. Don't risk it. To all my Cobarrubias family please pray for our loved one's soul and his family."

"Goodbye my love. Thank you for the 30 wonderful years. I love you. Dear God please give me the strength to be able to face this very difficult moment of my life," she wrote.

Early this week, actor Lui Manansala posted that Cobarrubias was in critical condition while waiting for his COVID-19 test result.

Cobarrubias, who portrayed a myriad of roles including doctors, starred alongside Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz in "Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis," with Vilma Santos in "Bata, Bata Paano Ka Ginawa?"; with Nora Aunor in "Kabisera"; and with Bea Alonzo and Charo Santos-Concio in "Eerie," among many others. 

In 2014, he won Best Actor at QCinema International Film Festival and in 1980, as Best Supporting Actor at Gawad Urian.

Before he passed away today, the actor was able to post "Good bye" on his Facebook account.

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