Sen. Raul Roco is dead.

**BlueBimmer** · August 5th, 2005 12:19 PM

really?? thats so sad...my deepest condolences to the Roco family..

**BlueBimmer** · August 5th, 2005 12:21 PM

Former senator Roco dies

(2nd UPDATE) FORMER senator Raul Roco, who challenged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 election, passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer, his family announced.

Roco, 63, died at 9:16 a.m. at St. Luke's Hospital in Quezon City, his wife Sonia was quoted as saying on radio and television.

Roco served as education secretary under Arroyo from May 2001 following her installation in the wake of a military-backed uprising that ousted her scandal-tainted predecessor Joseph Estrada.

He ran against Arroyo in the May 2004 election under the banner of his own party, the Democratic Action.

Although Roco enjoyed considerable support among the youth and students, his campaign did not have the widespread machinery of those of Arroyo and other candidates.

Roco's electoral foray was further hampered by his ill-health, which forced him to curtail his campaigning.

Arroyo was declared winner although the opposition has since filed an impeachment complaint against her, charging that she connived with election officials to steal the polls.

After the election, Roco was a critic of the Arroyo administration but his illness largely kept him out of the spotlight.

Aside from his wife, Roco is survived by his six children and four grandchildren.

**niky** · August 5th, 2005 12:39 PM

condolences...

**shadow** · August 5th, 2005 12:43 PM

swerte talaga ni gma, namamatay lahat ng kalaban niya..delikado sila lacson et al...

**1D4LV** · August 5th, 2005 12:46 PM

kaya pala payat na payat sya. eh dati ang lusog lusog nun.
di kaya pinapakulam lahat ni gma yung mga naging opponents nya...

brother eddie daw next, tapos si lacson. hehehehe.