Pumanaw na ang broadcaster at dating Press Secretary na si Ricardo "Dong" Puno, Jr. dahil sa karamdaman, ayon sa kapatid niya na si Deputy Speaker Robbie Puno.
"Dong was the eldest of a brood of twelve Puno siblings. When Dong became ill, we launched a family group called Dongdinners. We siblings took turns treating Dong to restaurants of his choice, sometimes in the country of his choice," ayon sa post ni Robbie sa Facebook.
Hindi binanggit ng kongresista ng Antipolo ang naging karamdaman ng kaniyang kapatid.
Pero sinabi ni Robbie na ang "Dongdinners" ay isang paraan upang maipahayag nilang magkakapatid ang pasasalamat kay Dong sa ginawang paggabay sa kanila.
"[The dinners were] a metaphor for Dong’s selfless sharing of whatever good fortune he had. For his desire to give those he loved a life that maybe he did not enjoy in his," ayon kay Robbie.
"May we, those who loved him, those who knew him, those who learned from him, those who benefited from his wisdom, his kindness, his generosity, may we endeavor to make his memory live on, may we keep dongdinners alive, in our own way. Rest well, Kuya Dong," dagdag niya.
Nagpahayag din ng pakikiramay sa pamilya ni Dong Puno ang Palasyo.
"We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family, loved ones, friends, and colleagues of former Press Secretary Atty. Ricardo “Dong” Puno Jr. on his passing. Secretary Dong was a vital cabinet official of the Estrada administration in communicating its policies and programs to the Filipino people," ayon sa pahayag ni Secretary Martin Andanar ng Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO).
Isa ring abogado si Dong, at naging Press Secretary ni dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada.
Naging bahagi rin ng Public Affairs Program ng GMA si Dong bilang host ng Business Today at ViewPoint. --FRJ, GMA News
