Ermita: Remonde's death sparks health awareness at Palace

The death of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde on Tuesday has triggered a health-conscious mentality among officials at Malacañang, especially those aged 60 and up. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said early on Wednesday that many Palace officials now have felt the need to watch their weight and avoid health risks. “Kailangan na nga yan. Siyempre everybody from age 60 up kailangan maging health conscious (We need to be health-conscious, especially everybody from age 60 up)," Ermita said in an interview on dzRH radio. Ermita was among the officials who paid their last respects to Remonde at the Heritage Memorial Memorial Park in Taguig City late Tuesday. Remonde, 51, died shortly before noon on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack. His doctor said the secretary suffered from a coronary artery disease, along with health risks such hypertension and diabetes. His personal physician Anthony Leachon also noted that Remonde had gotten back to smoking lately. "Mukhang meron siyang coronary artery disease, at ang weight factor. May diabetes at hypertension, tumaas ang cholesterol level niya, at lately napapanigarilyo siya (He appeared to have coronary heart disease, and there is the weight factor. He had diabetes and hypertension, and high cholesterol. Lately he had taken up smoking)," Leachon had said in an interview Tuesday on dzBB radio.

Ermita said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was stupefied when she learned of Remonde’s death, adding that many Palace officials remained in a state of unbelief up to now. “Namangha si pangulo (She was stupefied)," he said when asked about Mrs. Arroyo’s reaction. Before dawn Wednesday, Arroyo paid her last respects to Remonde at the Heritage Memorial Park. Radio dzBB’s Denevin Macaranas reported that Mrs. Arroyo stayed for about 30 minutes before leaving at 5 a.m. She talked with Remonde’s widow Marit and told her how sad she was to lose her press secretary, the report said.
A separate report on dzRH radio said Mrs. Arroyo embraced Mrs. Remonde and was teary-eyed as she approached Remonde’s casket. The dzRH report said President Arroyo recalled Remonde’s “lambing," and his birthday in Hong Kong last December. Mrs. Remonde told reporters of a last will and testament her husband had prepared, but said she had not paid much attention to it at the time. Before Mrs. Arroyo, several ranking officials and public figures went to the memorial park Tuesday night to pay their respects, including Vice President Manuel “Noli" de Castro, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and presidential son Rep. Diosdado Arroyo. Meanwhile, media groups were to hold a eulogy for Remonde at 7 p.m. Wednesday, before his remains were to be transferred to Malacañang for necrological rites Thursday morning. On Friday, his remains would be brought to Cebu. Tapped to replace Remonde in an acting capacity was Philippine Information Agency head Conrado Limcaoco Jr. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV