Ex-DBM Sec. Boncodin passes away at 55

A long-drawn fight with kidney disease took its toll on former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Emilia T. Boncodin, who died Monday of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Quezon City. She was 55.

Boncodin, who was admitted at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Diliman, Quezon City, last March 10, died shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.

Black and White Movement convenor Leah Navarro broke the news of Boncodin’s death over radio station DzRH. “I just want to confirm that Emy Boncodin passed away earlier today at the National Kidney Institute.”

Navarro said that Boncodin had been undergoing dialysis for months prior to her confinement at NKTI last week due to end-stage renal disease.

In 2005, she underwent a kidney transplant but the kidney donated by her sister was rejected by her system.

Apart from her stint as DBM Secretary, Boncodin is remembered as one of the so-called “Hyatt 10” top level government officials who resigned over the “Hello Garci” scandal.

She and the six Cabinet officials and three heads of agencies also called for the resignation of Arroyo.
In 2006, Boncodin accepted the position of independent director of state-run Petron Corp.

Boncodin joined the Cabinet of Arroyo in 1998 as Budget Secretary but previously held positions in the DBM after leaving her professorial job at the University of the Philippines – Diliman.

Late Monday, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said the President was extending her condolences to the Boncodin family and planned to pay her final respects.
As of press time, burial arrangements have not been announced for Boncodin, who was a native of Iriga City in Bicol and a resident of Novaliches, Quezon City.