Puno was a former Press Secretary under the Estrada Administration.
Ricard “Dong” Puno, Jr., the veteran broadcaster and former Press Secretary under the Estrada administration, has passed away. He was 76.
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According to a report by ABS-CBN, Puno’s home network where he served as senior vice president for News and Current Affairs, he succumbed to a lingering illness” at 12:15 P.M. today. The story named Ricky and Donnie Puno, the journalist’s sons with Clodelsa del Castillo, as sources.
Born in 1946, he was the son of Ricardo C. Puno , who served as Minister of Justice under the Marcos administration. (His brother Ronnie Puno also served as Interior Secretary under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.) He obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degree from Ateneo de Manila, and earned a Master of Law from Harvard.
At ABS-CBN, he hosted Dong Puno Live, Viewpoints, and Insider, his last show at the Lopez owned media corporation. There, he also served as vice president of the ABS-CBN News Channel while maintaining a column first at The Philippine Star, and then at The Manila Times. He also served as president of the Manila Overseas Press Club. Puno later joined Aksyon TV to host the weekly political commentary De Kalibre.
Over the years, Puno has worn many hats aside from his contributions to media and his cabinet position. Aside from being a senior partner at Puno and Puno Law Offices, he also served as vice president-general counsel and corporate secretary of national carrier Philippine Airlines. He was also president of Guagua National Colleges in Pampanga until 2012.
The journalist also has won several citations, including the TOYM for Media in 1985, the Catholic Mass Media awards, the Gawad CCP Para sa Telebisyon, and several KBP Dove Awards during the 1990s. Despite his prolific career in media, he was largely unsuccessful in the realm of politics, running for both national and local posts and losing out every time. This includes a bid for a Senate seat in 2001 and Congressional races in Muntinlupa.
Still, he made his mark in the hearts and minds of his colleagues. In a tweet, ABS-CBN journalist Lynda Jumilla-Abalos called Puno as the “original king of talk. He would ask relevant questions and proffer insights without being rude or arrogant. He would laugh with his guests (while skewering them at the same time) which made for light and lively convos. Light but never puff.
“Rest in peace, RVP. Thank you for your leadership and kindness during your time as head of #ABSCBN News and Current Affairs,” she continues.
