ONE of the pillars of honest and transparent elections, patriot and industrialist Jose “JoeCon” Concepcion Jr., has passed away, according to a statement from the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go Negosyo).

Concepcion was 92 years old. He served as a trade secretary under President Corazon Aquino.

He also served as a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention representing the first district of Rizal.

In 1983, Concepcion organized the now famous election transparency group, the National Citizens Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL).

It is a voluntary, non-partisan and community-based organization. 

He served as president and COO of Republic Flour Mills (RFM) in 1965, a position which he held until 1986.

“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. Under his guidance, RFM embarked on a path of diversification, venturing into animal feed milling, poultry, and livestock, and obtaining the license from American company Swift to produce processed meats in the Philippines,” a statement from Go Negosyo read. 

He is survived by his wife, the former Maria Victoria Araneta, his eight children and his 31 grandchildren, and his twin brother, Raul.

For those wanting to pay their respects, a public viewing will be held from March 7 (Thursday) to March 10 (Friday), from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City. 

A Requiem Mass will be offered on March 11 (Monday) at 1:15 p.m. at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church, Forbes Park, Makati City.