Arroyo’s elder brother Art Macapagal dies

Ryan Macasero

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Arroyo’s elder brother Art Macapagal dies
(3rd UPDATE) The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan allows former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to attend the wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig City. Malacañang condoles with the Macapagal family.

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Arturo “Art” Macapagal, brother of former president and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, died on Tuesday, August 11.

Macapagal, 72, had prostate cancer. Arroyo’s lawyer confirmed to media outlets that he passed away at 6:40 am at the Makati Medical Center. He will be interred on August 15.

Macapagal is the former president’s half-brother, the second child and eldest son of former president Diosdado Macapagal with first wife Purita de la Rosa. 

Arroyo’s mother is former First Lady Evangelina Macaraeg, Macapagal’s second wife.

Macapagal pursued a degree in business management. He was president and part owner of Toyota Pasong Tamo.

In a Newsbreak article in August 2001, Macapagal was described as one of the key personalities whom Arroyo had heavily relied on when she entered politics.

“The President also listens to eldest half-brother, Art Macapagal, who gives her pointers on how to deal with people and politicians,” said in the article.

In a separate Newsbreak article in August 2003, Macapagal revealed that at age 29, he was asked to run for governor of Pampanga. He declined, however, as he was then starting his own family, having married when he was only 23. 

Before former president Macapagal’s death in April 1997, his son promised him   that he will pursue government service. The younger Macapagal planned to run for Congress in 2004, but backed out in favor of his nephew, then vice governor Mikey Arroyo, who expressed his desire to run for the same position.

Palace condoles with Macapagal family

Malacañang conveyed its condolences to the Macapagal family.

“The nation lost an outstanding Olympian and a respected business leader with the passing of Arturo D. Macapagal this morning….We extend our condolences to the bereaved family of Mr Macapagal,” Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in a statement.

Coloma said Macapagal was “a recognized leader in the automotive industry and is a staunch supporter of various socio-civic organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Scholarship Foundation for the Filipino Youth, where he served as Chairman.”

He added that Macapagal represented the Philippines in the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, and held the national record in Olympic free pistol shooting for more than 21 years.

Furlough

On Tuesday, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan allowed Arroyo to visit her brother’s wake at Heritage Park in Taguig City on August 11, 12, and 14, from 4 pm to 8 pm, exclusive of travel time.

Prior to Macapagal’s death, Arroyo had filed a motion for a furlough so she could visit her “dying” brother at the Makati Medical Center. The Sandiganbayan then granted this, and allowed her to visit from 3 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday.

Following her brother’s death, Arroyo then revised her request to be allowed to attend the wake. Arroyo had asked for a 5-day furlough – from August 11 until Macapagal’s interment on August 15.

Arroyo is detained over plunder charges stemming from her alleged misuse of P366 million of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds when she was still president.

Arroyo herself has been suffering from illness – “multilevel cervical spondylosis” or the wearing of the bones – first reported in 2011. The condition causes the compression of nerves responsible for respiratory and arm movements. The complication was caused by a dislodged titanium implant, which threatens to block her trachea. (READ: Spinal surgery and titanium plates

Lawyers of the former president have been asking the Sandiganbayan to allow  her to seek medical treatment abroad. (READ: Lawyer’s ask UN to seek ‘humanitarian release’ of Arroyo) – Rappler.com 

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Nobuhiko Matsunaka

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Ryan Macasero

Ryan covers social welfare for Rappler. He started at Rappler as social media producer in 2013, and later took on various roles for the company: editor for the #BalikBayan section, correspondent in Cebu, and general assignments reporter in the Visayas region. He graduated from California State University, East Bay, with a degree in international studies and a minor in political science. Outside of work, Ryan performs spoken word poetry and loves attending local music gigs. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmacasero or drop him leads for stories at ryan.macasero@rappler.com