Jose Concepcion Jr. Romeo Gacad, AFP 

PATRIOT-INDUSTRIALIST JOSE “JOECON” CONCEPCION JR., 92

Jose Concepcion, Jr., founder of the election watchdog NAMFREL, has passed away Wednesday, a statement by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go Negosyo) said. 

He was 92 years old. 

A former trade secretary under President Corazon Aquino, "Joecon" was a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention representing the first district of Rizal "where he championed constitutional principles that would democratize the nation’s capital base to allow Filipino manufacturers to thrive."

In 1983, he organized the National Citizens Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) a voluntary, non-partisan and community-based organization. 

He was 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. 

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

Public viewing will start on March 7 (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and from March 8 to 10 (1 p.m. to 10 p.m.) at the Chapel 4&5 of Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City. A Requiem Mass will be offered on March 11 (Monday) at 1:30 p.m. at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church, Forbes Park, Makati City.