Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III died early this morning at the age of 61, in Manila.
Benigno Aquino is the son of the most prominent advocates of democracy who helped overthrow autocratic President Ferdinand Marcos.
His family said at a press conference that he died in his sleep early this morning from "kidney failure due to diabetes".
Former government official Rogelio Singson said Aquino was on dialysis and was preparing for a kidney transplant.
Aquino, who served as president from 2010 to 2016, is the son of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and Senator Benigno Aquino II, famous fighters against the Marcos dictatorship regime.
Senator Aquino was assassinated by members of the regime in 1983 at Manila International Airport, which now bears his name.
The murder sparked an uprising led by Corazon Aquino, which overthrew the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos three years later.
During Benigno's tenure, the Philippines took China's initiative to the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding territorial rights in the South China Sea.
The court ruled in favor of the Philippines.
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