Charlie Cojuangco
Birth nameCarlos Oppen Cojuangco
Birth dateApril 14, 1963
Birth placePhilippines
Death dateFebruary 22, 2022 (aged 58)
Death placePhilippines
PartyNPC (1998–2022)
Other partyUNEGA (local party; 2001–2004)
OccupationPolitician, businessman
SpouseRio Diaz (m. until 2004)
China Jocson (m. 2021)
FatherDanding Cojuangco
OfficeMember of the Philippine House of Representatives
Term startJune 30, 2016
Term endFebruary 22, 2022
PredecessorVacant[a]
SuccessorVacant[b]
ConstituencyTarlac's 1st district
Constituency 2Negros Occidental's 4th district
Predecessor 2Edward M. Matti
Successor 2Jeffrey P. Ferrer
Term start 2June 30, 1998
Term end 2June 30, 2007

Carlos "Charlie" Oppen Cojuangco (April 14, 1963 – February 22, 2022) was a Filipino politician who served in the Philippine House of Representatives for two different districts: Tarlac's 1st district and Negros Occidental's 4th district.

Political career

Cojuangco served in the Philippine House of Representatives as congressman of Negros Occidental's 4th district from 1998 to 2007,[1][2] and then as congressman of Tarlac's 1st district from 2016 until his death, when he replaced his uncle Henry Cojuangco, who died in 2015 and did not finish his term. Both were members of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).[3][4]

He was supposed to run for a third consecutive term, but he suffered an untimely death in February 2022. Due to his passing, his son Jaime Cojuangco substituted for him, and subsequently won in the elections.[5]

Personal life

Cojuangco was the son of business magnate and NPC founder Danding Cojuangco and brother of another congressman Mark Cojuangco.[6] He married former Eat Bulaga! co-host Rio Diaz, but she died in 2004.[7] He then married China Jocson, a media personality and former government official, in October 2021.[1] He also had a previous relationship with actress Sharon Cuneta.[8]

In October 2021, while driving at the Clark International Speedway race track in Pampanga province, he suffered a brain aneurysm and underwent emergency surgery to which he never recovered. He eventually died on February 22, 2022, although the exact cause of his death was not disclosed.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Henry Cojuangco died while in the middle of the term, and there is no assigned temporary caretaker
  2. ^ Charlie Cojuangco died while in the middle of the term, and there is no assigned temporary caretaker. Later substituted and succeeded by Jaime Diaz Cojuangco

References

  1. ^ Calayag, Maria Adelaida & Corrales, Nestor (2022-02-23). "Tarlac mourns passing of Rep. Charlie Cojuangco". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  2. ^ Gomez, Carla (2022-02-22). "Flags fly at half-mast as Negros mourns passing of Rep. Charlie Cojuangco". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  3. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (2022-02-22). "Solons mourn death of Tarlac Rep. Charlie Cojuangco". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. ^ BAJO, ANNA FELICIA & BORDEY, HANA (2022-02-22). "Tarlac Rep. Charlie Cojuangco passes away". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  5. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (2022-02-22). "BREAK: Tarlac Rep. Charlie Cojuangco; 58". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  6. ^ Talabong, Rambo (2022-02-22). "Tarlac congressman Charlie Cojuangco dies". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  7. ^ Siazon, Rachel (February 22, 2022). "Tarlac congressman Charlie Cojuangco dies at 58". PEP.ph
  8. ^ Plaza, Marane A. (February 24, 2022). "Sharon Cuneta mourns death of ex-fiance Charlie Cojuangco". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.