World Loses Democracy Public Governance Icon with Corys Death Says Puno

August 1, 2009

The Philippines and the rest of the world has lost an icon of democracy and public governance with the passing of former President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, according to Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“She will be greatly missed,” Puno said of the former President, who passed away early Saturday at the Makati Medical Center after an over yearlong bout with colon cancer. “My family and I are one with our people in mourning the death of an icon of democracy and public governance.”

In taking over the Presidency in 1986, the widow of national Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. has broken the glass ceiling that has till then barred Filipino women from holding the premier executive position in the country, said Puno.

Puno said that broad and bold reforms had taken place on the watch of Mrs. Arroyo as lady Chief Executive, including the enactment of Republic Act 7160—the Local Government Code of 1991—that empowered local government units and set them on the path of greater political and fiscal autonomy.