Ex-police general Romeo Maganto dies at 70

Retired police general Romeo Maganto passed away on Saturday (June 16) at the age of 70 due to multiple organ failure, his family confirmed on Tuesday.

His remains which lie at his residence in Bustos, Bulacan are set to be transferred to St. Peter Memorial Chapel in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday, Bustos municipal government information officer Arnel Tolentino said.

Maganto served 31 years in the Philippine National Police before he retired in 2004. He was awarded with 45 medals while in service which include Presidential Medals and Medals of Bravery.

His life and work were chronicled into two films, the "Leon ng Maynila, Lt. Col. Romeo Maganto" and "Tomagan, Story of Gen. Romeo Maganto."

As a former traffic czar, Maganto authored in 1995 the color coding traffic scheme. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/RSJ, GMA News