MANILA -- (4th UPDATE) Box-office director Wenn Deramas died Monday morning due to cardiac arrest. He was 49.

According to Deramas' friend, June Rufino, the director died at the emergency room of Capitol Medical Center at around 2 a.m.

He said Deramas went there to see his sister who earlier succumbed to cardiac arrest.

"'Yung kapatid niya, matagal nang maraming sakit, nagda-dialysis na nga 'yan and lahat. So, sinabi na-heart attack so sinabi ni Direk, tinawagan niya 'yung neighbor nila, sinabi takbuhin mo muna sa Capitol. Tapos sumunod siya doon, nakita niya ang pag-revive kasi dead on arrival na," Rufino told radio dzMM.

"Nakita niya 'yung pag-revive. Nung napronounce na na dead, bigla din siyang na ano, tumirik nga 'yung mata niya, tapos di na rin siya na-revive," he added.

Deramas almost had a heart attack two years ago, and he underwent an angioplasty last year.

Rufino said the director had fully recovered after his angioplasty so his death came as a surprise.

"He had an angioplasty last year but he became very healthy. He lost weight, maganda. Kaya biglaan in a way kasi na-clear din naman siya sa angioplasty," Rufino said.

The remains of Direk Wenn will be brought to Arlington Memorial Chapels in Araneta Avenue later Monday.

Deramas graduated from the University of Santo Tomas and started his career as a production assistant. He also worked as a writer and executive producer but is best known as a film and TV director.

His hit films include the "Ang Tanging Ina" series, "Petrang Kabayo," "Sisterakas," "Moron 5 and the Crying Lady," "The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin," "Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy," "The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin" and the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, "Beauty and the Bestie."

"Beauty and the Bestie" has earned P526 million in the box office as of January 26, 2016.

Several showbiz personalities have expressed their grief over the loss of the well-loved director.

Isang napakalungkot na araw. Sagad hanggang buto ang lungkot. Paalam Direk Wenn. Mahal na mahal kita.

— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) February 28, 2016

Rest in peace, Direk Wenn Deramas. Thank you for Mula sa Puso, Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan, and Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita.

— Juan Miguel Severo (@TheRainBro) February 28, 2016

Rest in peace now, Direk Wenn Deramas. You will be missed.

— EJS (@ericjohnsalut) February 28, 2016

Oh what a sad, shocking news to wake up to. Rest in peace, direk Wenn Deramas.

— Tonette, Tonette (@tonetjadaone) February 28, 2016