Former Philippines President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino 3rd passed away on Thursday, former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas 2nd has confirmed. He was 61.

"PNoy RIP (rest in peace). [He] was rushed to hospital early this morning and passed after efforts to revive failed. Please pray for him. Salamat (Thank you)," Roxas said in a statement.

Reports said Aquino was brought to the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City early Thursday for undisclosed reasons.

Aquino had been suffering from various illnesses since 2019. He had been undergoing dialysis for at least five months and had recently undergone a heart operation.

He served from 2010 to 2016, riding on a wave of goodwill after the death of his mother, democracy icon Cory Aquino, and on the promise of leading the nation to prosperity through "Daang Matuwid" – or the straight and honest path.