Business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, whose influence in business and politics spanned decades, has died. He was 85.
San Miguel Corp, where Cojuangco was chairman and CEO for 22 years, announced his passing in a disclosure to the stock exchange.
“San Miguel Corp announces the passing of its Chairman and Chief Executive Office Mr. Eduardo M. Cojuangco, Jr. on the evening of June 16, 2020,” the company told the stock exchange.
A report from DZRH News claimed Cojuangco died due to cancer.
Cojuangco helped build San Miguel into one of the Philippine’ largest and most diversified conglomerates from its beer brewer roots. It has stakes in infrastructure, power and food.
He also chaired the National People’s Coalition party, which consistently fields candidates in local and national races since its founding in the 1990s.
Cojuangco ran for president in 1992 but lost to Fidel Ramos. His running mate at that time, Joseph Estrada, became Ramos’ vice president.
Government prosecutors have accused Cojuangco of illegally amassing his fortune during the Marcos years. He was never convicted nor sent to jail.
In 2018, Cojuangco’s niece, television host Kris Aquino, said she did not believe that her uncle had a hand in the 1983 assassination of her father, Sen. Beningo “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Cojuangco is a cousin of the martyred senator’s wife, former President Corazon Aquino. (ABS-CBN News)
