Ricardo 鈥淒ong鈥� Puno Jr. (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philipines 鈥� Former Press Secretary Ricardo 鈥淒ong鈥� Puno Jr. died on Tuesday from complications of Parkinson鈥檚 disease, his brother, former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, confirmed to the Inquirer. He was 76.
The lawyer, columnist and veteran broadcaster was in and out of the hospital as his sickness progressed.
Still, his brother said Puno鈥檚 demise was a surprise to the family since he just returned from confinement, seemed to be getting better and even received visitors on Sunday.
鈥淭he family is grieving, hindi namin expected talaga,鈥� Ronaldo said over the phone.
Puno became a household name in the mid-1980s when his talk show 鈥淰iewpoint鈥� aired on GMA.
Puno, a fluent English speaker, was fresh from his first stint as corporate secretary of Philippine Airlines, when his program launched in 1984 tackled controversial public affairs issues just as the country was reeling from the assassination of former Sen. Benigno 鈥淣inoy鈥� Aquino Jr.
鈥楧ong Puno Live鈥�
Viewpoint ran for 10 years and won many awards before Puno transferred to ABS-CBN, this time hosting the prime time talk show 鈥淒ong Puno Live!鈥� in Filipino.
While in ABS-CBN, Puno also worked as vice president for overhead news operations and senior vice president for news and current affairs from October 1994 to April 2000.
Many were shocked when he left ABS-CBN to join the Estrada Cabinet as press secretary a month later to replace veteran newsman Rodolfo Reyes.
President Joseph Estrada was ousted in January 2001 but Puno joined his senatorial line-up for the May election. Puno lost his Senate bid and eventually returned to ABS-CBN to host 鈥淒ong Puno Nightly.鈥�
In 2003, he was appointed as senior vice president (SVP) for integrated news and current affairs but gave up the position the following year after the network enforced a policy prohibiting ABS-CBN executives from having on-camera programs at the same time.
Unsuccessful in politics
Puno told Inquirer Entertainment then that he had asked ABS-CBN to relieve him of his corporate duties as SVP so he could 鈥渇ocus [his] energies on greater on-air and on-camera involvement in various platforms鈥� of the network.
鈥淚 really want to focus on actual, on-cam programs,鈥� Puno told the Inquirer on the phone that time.
Puno found himself in front of the camera again in 2005 to anchor the short-lived 鈥淚nsider鈥� before trying his hand anew in politics.
He ran for representative of the lone district of Muntinlupa in 2007 and 2010. He lost both times.
Puno returned to media in 2011, hosting a television talk show with a political format in 鈥淎ksyon TV鈥� and later, the public affairs radio program 鈥淜arambola鈥� with other block-timers on AM radio.
Puno was the eldest child of former Minister of Justice and Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ricardo Puno Sr. and the former Priscilla Villanueva. He obtained his law education from Ateneo de Manila University and Harvard Law School.
He is survived by his wife, Christy; sons Ricky and Donnie, and 11 siblings, including former Interior Secretary and House Deputy Speaker Roberto 鈥淩obbie鈥� Puno.
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