By Joel E. Zurbano

Undersecretary Ramon Aquino died yesterday, eight days after he and his two companions were ambushed at the main gate of the Department of Public Works and Highways head office in Port Area, Manila.

A medical bulletin signed by four physicians at the Manila Doctors Hospital indicated that he had multi-organ failure with acute respiratory distress syndrome, hepatic failure, acute renal failure, encephalopathy and coagulopathies secondary to sepsis, peritonitis and pneumonia.

The bulletin was released to the media yesterday at 4:10 p.m.

Executive assistant Adora Sunga said her 54-year-old boss passed away at 3:20 p.m. at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

“Usec. Aquino was at the ICU at the time. He had an operation last Saturday, and he was moved to the recovery room after his surgery. But he was taken back to ICU for further monitoring and that was where he expired,” she said.

Aquino is married to Dr. Teresita Aquino, a pulmonologist at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. They have four children—Teresita Angelica, Terese Camille, Terese Monette and Terese Ray-Anne.

Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said the department lost a good man.

“Usec. Aquino is a working animal in the department and very much focused on his job... as a friend he is very supportive, considerate and understanding,” he said.

Aquino handled all of the projects in Luzon and headed the region’s bids and awards committee while serving as chief-of-staff of Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

He also served as undersecretary for Operations for Cordillera Administrative Region and Metro Manila along with the Legislative Liaison Office.

Aquino, a native of San Fernando, La Union, attended the Dominican School (elementary, 1961-67); Royal Carpenter Academy (secondary, 1967-71) graduating fourth honors; and University of the East (tertiary, 1971-77) with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. In 1989, he pursued his Masteral Science degree in Construction Management.

He passed his Civil Engineers Licensure Examination in Manila in November 1977 and earned his Career Executive Service Officer Rank IV in July 1999.

His record of experiences in the government service includes:

Director IV; Jan. 27, 2004 to January 2007; Region 3, DPWH

OIC-Regional Director; Dec. 1, 2003 - Jan. 26, 2004; Region 3, DPWH

OIC-Regional Director; April 28, 2003 - Nov. 30, 2003; DPWH-NCR

OIC-Regional Director; March 29, 1990 - April 27, 2003; Region 1, DPWH

OIC-ARD; Aug. 25, 1998 - March 28, 1999; Region 1, DPWH

OIC-ARD; Aug. 4, 1998 - Aug. 24, 1998; Central Office, DPWH

OIC-ARD; June 15, 1998 - Aug. 3, 1998; Region 5, DPWH

District Engineer; Nov. 1, 1997 - June 14, 1998; Region 4-A, DPWH