The Chairman of the Philippines’ largest conglomerate San Miguel Corporation, Eduardo Murphy Cojuangco Jr. more popularly known as “Danding” passed away. He was 85.

Danding Cojuangco was one of the most influential personalities in Philippine Society. In 1998, he ran for president and placed third. Since then, the political party he founded, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), has consistently fielded national and local candidates in subsequent elections and it is now one of the largest political parties in the Philippines. He was a former ambassador, congressman and governor of Tarlac province.

Aside from San Miguel Corporation, Cojuangco owns other businesses such as cement, sugar plantations, and three basketball teams. He is a first cousin of former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and an uncle of Benigno Simeon Aquino III, also a former president.

In 2018, actress Kris Aquino, the youngest daughter of Cory Aquino, cleared Danding of any involvement in the assassination of his father in 1983 which sparked widespread protests and eventually brought down the Marcos Administration. During the regime of President Marcos, Danding Cojuangco was a close ally and many people still believe he was one of the biggest cronies of the former strongman.

Danding Cojuangco is survived by his four children: Margarita “Tina” Cojuangco Barrera, Luisa “Lisa” Cojuangco-Cruz, Carlos “Charlie” Cojuangco and Marcos “Mark” Cojuangco with his wife Soledad “Gretchen” Oppen-Cojuangco of Negros Occidental and his grandchildren. Charlie Cojuangco is the present congressman of the first district of Tarlac Province.

As of today, June 17, 2020, forbes.com listed Danding Cojuangco as the 16th richest Filipino with a net worth of US$1.1 billion. In 2012, he sold most of his stake in San Miguel Corporation to his protege Ramon Ang.