MANILA - Corazon Aquino of the Philippines, former president and heroine of the 1986 people power revolution, has died after a 16-month battle against colon cancer, her family said Saturday.

The 76-year-old Aquino was diagnosed with the disease in March last year and had undergone chemotherapy and surgery. She was admitted to hospital in June after a loss of appetite.

Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m. (1918 GMT Friday) of cardio-respiratory arrest, her son, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., said on national television.

(Reporting by Manny Mogato, Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Michael Roddy)