(Eagle News)–Lawmakers mourned the death of industrialist John Gokongwei Jr. on Saturday night.
In a Tweet, Senator Sonny Angara recalled Gokongwei as “a man who always tried to provide value to Philippine consumers.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson, for his part, recalled an instance when he, as then the Philippine National Police, interacted with Gokongwei when his daughter Robina was kidnapped.
“In 1981, I instructed him not to sound intimidated while negotiating for Robina’s ransom snapped at her kidnappers, ‘P10M? Do you know how long it’ll take me to count that much money? You can have my daughter!’ I said, not too bold either Mr. John..,” Lacson said.
Gokongwei passed away at the Manila Doctors Hospital surrounded by his loved ones, his son Lance told Esquire Philippines.
He was 93 years old.
