Cesar Virata, Philippines' longest-serving finance chief, dies at 95 - GMA Network

Cesar E.A. Virata, the Philippines’ longest-serving finance chief and former Prime Minister under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., died on Friday, October 2, at the age of 95.

His death was announced by the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), where he served as a director since 1995 and as corporate vice chairperson for 26 years. No further details were given.

Virata served as finance secretary from 1970 to 1978 and finance minister from 1978 to 1986. He was the Philippines’ prime minister from 1981 to 1986. He also served as the country’s governor to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

He was also a longtime educator at the University of the Philippines (UP), where he served as dean of the UP College of Business Administration from 1960 to 1967 and is credited with introducing the Master of Business Administration program at the institution. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News