Jose Concepcion Jr., the founder of election watchdog National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) chief, passed away on Wednesday, March 6. He was 92.
The passing of Concepcion, also known as "Joecon," was confirmed by his family.
"Joecon was the epitome of the patriot-industrialist. He believed in the Philippines’s ability to achieve economic development that was inclusive and pro-Filipino," his family said in a statement.
"Under his guidance, RFM embarked on a path of diversification, venturing into animal feed milling, poultry, and livestock, and obtaining a license from American company Swift to produce processed meats in the Philippines," they added.
Meanwhile, NAMFREL described Concepcion in a post on Facebook as "a visionary leader who truly loved his country and believed in the power of ordinary citizens to effect lasting change in their own communities."
The DTI, where Concepcion served as secretary and member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention and CEO of RFM Corp., also expressed its sympathy for his passing.
"The whole DTI organization extends sincere condolences to Joecon's family and friends, acknowledging his enduring impact on Philippine society. His legacy will forever inspire future generations toward fostering a thriving and pro-Filipino nation," it said in a statement.
Public viewing will be from Thursday, March 7 to Friday, March 10, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.
A requiem mass will be offered on Monday, March 11 at 1:15 p.m. at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church, Forbes Park, Makati City.
