Widow of ex-Senator Diokno passes away

Carmen Icasiano Diokno, wife of the late senator and human rights icon Jose “Ka Pepe" Wright Diokno, passed away Friday, according to the Malacañang’s official Twitter account. She was 87. “Our staff extends sympathy to the Diokno family," the Palace’s announcement on Friday read. The cause of Mrs. Diokno’s death could not be verified as of posting time. Mrs. Diokno’s remains lie in state at the La Salle Greenhills Chapel in San Juan City, her grandson, filmmaker Jose Lorenzo “Pepe" Diokno, said on Saturday in his official Twitter account. “Sleeping by Lola in the chapel. Never done this before but it’s not scary at all," he tweeted. He thanked Malacañang for condoling with his family. Mrs. Diokno is survived by 10 children, among them human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, who was nominated as Ombudsman earlier this year, and National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson, Prof. Maria Serena Diokno. Mrs. Diokno’s husband was a contemporary and close political ally of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., father of incumbent President Benigno Aquino III. The elder Aquino and Diokno were staunch anti-Marcos stalwarts, and both were detained in Nueva Ecija at the height of Marcos' power. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News