Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has died after a prolonged illness, according to several news reports and Al Jazeera sources.

News reports say Aquino had been undergoing dialysis for at least five months and had recently undergone heart surgery.

Aquino, who ruled the Philippines from 2010 to 2016, was the only son of the late former president Corazon Aquino and her assassinated husband, senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, both revered for leading the struggle to restore democracy in the archipelago nation.

His family has yet to issue an official statement but his former spokeswoman Abigail Valte told reporters in Manila a statement is forthcoming on Thursday.

Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, who was Aquino’s former peace adviser, expressed his “profound sadness” over the former leader’s death.

“I knew him to be a kind man, driven by his passion to serve our people, diligent in his duties, and with an avid and consuming curiosity about new knowledge and the world in general,” Leonen said.

Aquino, who was succeeded by President Rodrigo Duterte, waged an anti-corruption agenda during his term and ushered in key economic reforms.