MANILA, Philippines - Administration allies and critics mourned the death of President Arroyo's Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who died on Tuesday following a heart attack.

"It is with deep shock and sadness that we now have to bid farewell to our dear friend Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, a hard working public servant and one of the most trusted members of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Cabinet," said House Speaker Prospero Nograles, a golfing buddy of Remonde.

"He was an old personal friend from Cebu for years. He withstood all the pressures and stood his ground even when faced with the most controversial issues during his watch. He was the administration's first line of defense and did his utmost best with dedication, hard work and service to the news and the media profession. He died as a true media man till his last breath," Nograles added.

Presidential candidate Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP) hailed Remonde as "one of the versatile members of the of the Cabinet of the present administration."

“I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde for his passing," Villar said in a statement.

“As press secretary for barely a year, Cerge was able to put his personal stamp on how he performed the tasks and duties of a press secretary. This has endeared him to the people around him, particularly the press people, considering that he was a media practitioner himself before he joined the Cabinet. He also made a mark in his stint as lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission and senior adviser to the GRP-NDF Peace Panel. He was truly one of the more versatile members of the Cabinet of the present administration. He will surely be missed," he added.

NP senatorial candidate and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, one of the fiercest critics of the administration, said the party has "no ill feeling" against the President Arroyo's spokesperson.

"Nakikiramay kami sa pamilya ni press secretary Cerge Remonde. Personally, being also a journalist, ako ay nakikidalamhati sa mga kasama sa media. We have our differences but we understand that he is performing a function. He tried to do his best. While we disgree on issues, his sudden death still affected us. We have no ill feeling against him," Ocampo said.

Liberal Party senatorial candidate and Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros also mourned the death of Remonde.

"He lived his life according to his principles and remained committed to his duties and obligations even when confronted with harsh criticism and objections. That he stood up for convictions that more often than not clashed with our campaign for progressive reforms, he was a formidable adversary in the court of public opinion," Hontiveros said.

"We would like to extend our most heartfelt sympathy and deepest condolences to his wife, Marit Stinus-Remonde, and their family, loved ones, and friends," she added.

Among those who also released statements of condolences are Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ramon Revilla Jr., Benigno Aquino III, Loren Legarda, and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who is a close friend of the Remondes. -- by Carmela Fonbuena, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak