Cheyenne Suarez

Businessman and former Cabinet Secretary Aniceto Sobrepeña passes away

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768275205922Chito-Sobrepena.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div>MANILA – Aniceto &quot;Chito&quot; Sobrepeña, a former cabinet secretary and the longtime president of the Metrobank Foundation, has died following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 72.In a joint statement, the Metropolitan Bank &amp; Trust Company and the Metrobank Foundation honored him as a &quot;titan in corporate social responsibility&quot;. During his three-decade tenure, he expanded the foundation’s programs in education, visual arts, and livelihood assistance, impacting Filipinos from &quot;all walks of life&quot;.Sobrepeña also served as a Cabinet Secretary during the term of former President Corazon  Aquino and as Deputy Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority under former President Fidel Ramos.Sobrepeña&#x27;s family said he passed away in January at the Manila Doctors Hospital surrounded by his wife Anna, his children, and his brother Rino.His illness progressed rapidly; what began as minor weakness in November 2025 was diagnosed as a pancreatic mass by early January. Although surgeons successfully removed the tumors, Sobrepeña suffered significant blood loss during the procedure, compromising his kidney function.A former government official, Sobrepeña was remembered by colleagues for his &quot;quiet strength&quot; who lived by the Jesuit ideal of being a &quot;man for others.&quot;&quot;We honor his legacy by continuing the work he so passionately advanced,&quot; Metrobank said.