MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia "Virgie" Torres died on Saturday, January 2.
Torres, 62, died after suffering from cardiac arrest at a hospital in Pampanga.
Radio dzBB reported that the death was confirmed by Ruben Torres, the former official's brother.
Malacañang expressed its condolences to the Torres family. "We extend our sympathy and condolences to the family of former Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres," Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in a statement.
Torres, a known "shooting buddy" of President Benigno Aquino III, was in public service for 33 years. She served in different positions at the LTO, starting as a cashier at the Tarlac LTO in December 1980.
She retired from government service in October 2013, after figuring in a viral video showing her playing in a casino.
Last year, her name resurfaced in the news after she allegedly asked Customs officials to release 64 containers of smuggled sugar worth over P100 million.– Rappler.com