Pumanaw na sa edad na 92 si Jose "Joecon"Concepcion Jr., ang founder ng election watchdog na National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

Sa inilabas na pahayag ng kaniyang pamilya, inilarawan si Joecon na “epitome of the patriot-industrialist” na "who believed in the Philippines’s ability to achieve economic development that was inclusive and pro-Filipino.”

Sinabi naman ng NAMFREL sa hiwalay na pahayag na isang "visionary leader" si Joecon na, "who truly loved his country, and believed in the power of ordinary citizens to effect lasting change in their own communities."

Kinilala naman ng Makati Business Club (MBC) ang tulong na ginawa ni Joecon "to establish transparency in the historic 1986 election" sa pamamagitan ng itinatag niyang NAMFREL.

Naging dating kalihim din si Concepcion ng Department f Trade and Industry (DTI), at naging miyembro ng 1971 Constitutional Convention. Naging CEO rin siya ng RFM Corp. mula 1965-1986.

Sinabi ng MBC na naging trusteee si Concepcion ng kanilang grupo mula 1984 hanggang 1986.

"He then helped re-establish democracy and free enterprise as Trade & Industry secretary from 1986-1991," ayon sa business group.

Nang magretiro, naging punong barangay ng Forbes Park si Joecon.

"As a civic leader, among his early crusades was to help reform Pasay City through the formation of the Pasay Citizens League for Good Government," ayon sa kaniyang pamilya.

Naging co-founder din si Joecon ng Capitol Jaycees, the Bishop-Businessmen Conference for Human Development, at ang ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

"Joecon lived his life in adherence to his principles: that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," ayon sa kaniyang pamilya.

Naulila ni Joecon ang kaniyang maybahay, walong anak, 31 apo, at ang kaniyang kakambal na si Raul.

Bubuksan sa publiko ang burol ni Joecon simula sa March 7 (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.) at sa March 8 hanggang 10 (1 p.m. to 10 p.m.) sa Chapel 4&5 ng Heritage Memorial Park sa Taguig City.

Magdaraos din ng Requiem Mass sa March 11 (Lunes) sa ganap na 1:30 p.m. sa Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church, Forbes Park, Makati City. —FRJ, GMA Integrated News