The long lines of mourners at the public viewing of former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's cremated remains only prove the people's love for the late leader, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said Friday.

"'Yun ay magandang paghahatid sa kanyang huling hantungan (It’s a good way to bring him to his final resting place)," Pangilinan added in an interview with reporters at the Church of Gesu inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus where Aquino's urn was placed.

Pangilinan asked for understanding from the public regarding the non-disclosure of his health as he was already a private person after he got out of office.

He said Aquino did not only want to burden the people, especially his colleagues, from his “own challenges.”

“Yun ang dahilan kaya hindi niya pinaabot na rin ang tunay niyang kalagayan. Pakiramdam niya marahil marami ng problemang hinaharap at sariling pinapasan (That’s the reason he didn't inform us about his real condition. Perhaps, he felt that many were already facing their own problems),” he added.

Pangilinan, who is also a member of Liberal Party like Aquino, said they do not want to think of any political advantage that his death might bring.

“We don’t know. We just have to take it one day at a time. Right now, tayo nagdadalamhati at nagluluksa (we’re still in grief and mourning),” he said.

“Masakit (It hurts). We really wanted him to get well. We expected na s’ya ay gagaling. Noong hindi ito nangyari, talagang mahapdi, malungkot (We expected him to get well. But when it didn't happen, it’s really saddening),” he added.

Thousands of people paid their last respects to the former leader at his wake in Quezon City Friday. Some of them even waited along Katipunan Ave. as early as dawn and before his urn was brought to the church at 10 a.m.