Tarlac 1st district Rep. Carlos "Charlie" Cojuangco has died, his wife Czarina Maria "China" Jocson confirmed in a Facebook post Tuesday, Feb. 22.
"It is with a heavy heart that we regret to inform you that my husband, Claudia and Jaime's father, Carlos 'Charlie' Cojuangco, has passed away. Details of the wake and interment to follow," she wrote.
"Thank you for your thoughts and prayers through this difficult time," Jocson added.
A subsequent statement from the Cojuangco family said that the lawmaker died Tuesday morning.
"We feel at peace knowing that he can rest now. We would like to memorialize him by celebrating his wonderful life at The Heritage Memorial Park from Wednesday to Friday, Feb. 23 to 25, at 9 a.m. to midnight, and in Tarlac on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. to midnight. Thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time especially for Charlie’s family," it read.
Rep. Cojuangco, 58, was the youngest son of former Tarlac governor and Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) figurehead, the late Danding Cojuangco.
On Oct. 26, 2021, the congressman was driving in a circuit race when he suffered aneurysm in the brain and crashed his race car. He underwent surgery right after.
The incident happened just 16 days after he married Jocson at the San Sebastian Tarlac Cathedral. The couple had a civil wedding in Paniqui, Tarlac in April 2021.
Before his accident, Rep. Conjuangco was vying for a third term as Tarlac 1st district congressman in the May 2022 polls. He was substituted by his son, Jaime.
A leader and a friend
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, in a statement Tuesday afternoon, said, "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear colleague, Tarlac 1st District Rep. Carlos 'Charlie' Cojuangco."
"The House of Representatives mourns the loss of one of its eminent political party leaders. His untimely demise leaves a void in the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the entire House supermajority coalition. We have lost a leader and a friend," noted Velasco.
"May he rest in peace, and may his family find comfort during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed," he added.