Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, one of the longest serving cabinet member of President Arroyo, died Tuesday morning, January 19, due to heart failure. He was 51.

Press undersecretary Butch Junia said doctors were unable revive Remonde and pronounced him dead at 11:51 AM at the Makati Medical Center.

Remonde was earlier rushed to the hospital after he was found unconscious inside his bathroom in his home in Makati.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said Remonde had a "major heart incident" while preparing for work at his Bel-Air house in Makati City Tuesday morning. Remonde was supposed to hold a conference in Malacanang at 11:00 AM.

Marie Ruiz of Radyo ng Bayan, a close friend of Remonde, said doctors claimed Remonde did not have a pulse and heart rate and was not responding to medication.

Remonde showed no signs of illness when he attended the Sinulog Festival in Cebu the previous week. Press Undersecretary Romeo "Butch" Junia said that he and Remonde had come from a Palace meeting Monday night where Remonde appeared to be in good health.

Remonde previously served chief of the Presidential Management Staff prior to his appointment as Press Secretary in February 1, 2009.

He previously served head of the Government Mass Media Group in 2006 with a cabinet rank and press undersecretary in 2001.

Remonde, a magna cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Visayas, worked as a journalist prior to serving the government. Remonde's column, "Cerge for truth," appeared regularly in the Manila Bulletin.