President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his office shouldered the hospital bills of the late National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, Nora Aunor, according to a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) executive on Sunday.
PCO Senior Undersecretary for Operations and Strategic Communications Analisa Puod confirmed the report.
“It wasn’t the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office that shouldered the hospital bills. It was the Office of the President and the President himself,” Puod said.
“It wasn’t just the hospital bills. Other debts and expenses were also paid using PBBM’s (President Bongbong Marcos) personal money,” she added.
While the exact amount was not disclosed, the PCO official said Nora’s hospital expenses were covered under the hospitalization benefits program for national artists.
Earlier this week, Nora Aunor was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, where she was given full military honors and a state funeral by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Aunor, whose real name was Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, passed away on April 16 due to acute respiratory failure. She was 71 years old.
The late actress, widely regarded as one of the greatest performers in Philippine cinema, was conferred the National Artist title in 2022 after decades of acclaimed work. Her contributions to film, television, and music earned her iconic status, with many considering her a symbol of Filipino excellence in the arts.
