News of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III's death was already circulating earlier today but the official confirmation was made by his sister Pinky Aquino Abellada only in the afternoon.

The remains of the former President were cremated yesterday. A mass will be held at the Ateneo today, said his youngest sister Kris. He will be buried at the Manila Memorial Cemetery on Saturday.

"It is with profound grief that on behalf of our family, I am confirming that our brother Benigno 'Noynoy' S. Aquino III died peacefully in his sleep,” said Abellada.

“His death certificate pronounced his death at 6:30 a.m. due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.

"No words can express how broken our hearts are and how long it would take for us to accept the reality that he's gone. Mission accomplished ka Noy. Be happy now with dad and mom.

"We love you and we are so blessed to have had the privilege to have had you as our brother. We will miss you forever, Noy," said Abellada.

The former president was the son of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. and President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

Aquino was the country's 15th president. He was 61 years old.

He was also a son, brother, uncle, peer, colleague and friend to many.

Vice President Leni Robredo described Aquino as as a good friend, an upright president and a man of integrity.

"Noynoy and I may have had political differences during the last few years of his term, but that will not diminish the many years of friendship between our families," said Jejomar Binay, who was Aquino’s vice president from 2010-2016.

"We will remember President Aquino fondly for the service that he gave to the country," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

"Mahal ka namin, PNoy! Maraming salamat at paalam," said Aquino's cousin, former senator Bam Aquino.

"Be happy in eternity with your parents," said Korina Sanchez Roxas, journalist and wife of Aquino's friend, former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.

"Aside from his own achievements, he will be remembered as part of the Aquino family that has contributed 3 important people to the history our nation, Senator Ninoy Aquino and our 11th and 15th presidents, Cory and Noynoy Aquino," said former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

"May you take comfort in the knowledge that he is now in a better place with his Creator. Let us all take this opportunity to unite in prayer and set aside our differences as we pay respects to a leader who has given his best to serve the Filipino people. His memory and his family's legacy of offering their lives for the cause of democracy will forever remain etched in our hearts," he added," said President Rodrigo Duterte in a statement.

Aquino served in the House of Representatives as the congressman of Tarlac for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007 as a member of the Liberal Party. He made a successful bid in the Senate in 2007. He ran for the presidency because of public clamor after his mother's death in 2009 and won in May 2010.