Cardinal Jaime Sin

Roman Catholic Cardinal Jaime Sin, a huge figure in the religious life of the Philippines' and a key player in the "people power" revolts that ousted two presidents, died on Tuesday. He was 76 years old. Father Jun Sescon, Sin's spokesman, told local radio that the cardinal was taken to Cardinal Santos Medical Centre with a high fever on Sunday evening and suffered multiple organ failure. He died at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday (2215 GMT Monday). No cause of death was immediately given. The cardinal had been ill for several years and retired as Manila's archbishop in November 2003. He was unable to attend the Vatican conclave that chose a new pope in April. Sin was one of Asia's most prominent religious leaders, known for his vocal stances on everything from birth control to poverty, politics and the US-led war in Iraq. When he spoke, presidents listened. He stepped down as head of the Manila archdiocese, which he served for nearly three decades, after reaching the retirement age of 75 in November 2003. Declining health forced him to curtail his appearances, but he still remained a staunch guardian of democracy. Hours before hundreds of soldiers and officers staged a failed uprising against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in July 2003, he urged Filipinos to be vigilant against groups plotting to violently overturn the country's democratic institutions. The 19-hour uprising failed. The 14th of 16 children of a Chinese merchant and a Filipino woman, Sin had a sense of humour about his name, often referring to his residence as "the house of Sin." He burst onto the international stage when he called on Filipinos to surround the police and military headquarters in metropolitan Manila in 1986 to protect then-military Vice Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos and Defence Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, who broke away from dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Under Sin's leadership, the church opposed calls to change the national constitution - ratified a year after Marcos' ousting - saying it could endanger provisions safeguarding the nation from future dictatorships. Sin also helped lead large street protests that led to the overthrow of President Joseph Estrada over alleged corruption and misrule in January 2001. The church wasn't fond of Estrada, a notorious womaniser who sired children by several women and was known for late-night drinking and gambling sessions. Although revered by many Filipinos, Sin came under criticism over his active advocacies. He had a thorny relationship with President Fidel Ramos, a Protestant whose 1992-98 administration promoted the use of artificial birth control. Sin advocated only natural methods.