[4][5] Cojuangco's close relationship with Philippine president Ferdinand E. Marcos earned him a reputation as one of the late dictator's most powerful "cronies".

But the amount, consolidated in the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), was alleged to have instead been channelled to the private financial interests of the Marcos family and their close associates.

[10] In September 2012, the Supreme court affirmed that the 27% block of San Miguel Corporation shares under the name of the CIIF - reduced to 24% because of SMC's expansion since 1983 - were government-owned.

[15] In November of the same year, the court ruled that a 72.2% stake in UCPB was owned by the state, because they were bought using coco levy funds.

He eventually became chairman emeritus of the NPC, wielding influence that earned him a reputation as a "kingmaker" in Philippine politics.

His mother, the daughter of an Irish-Canadian U.S. Army volunteer who married a Filipina woman, was born and raised in Baguio.

[24] Although later separated, the couple remained legally married even after The Philippine Star reported in March 2018 that Cojuangco was living with 1996 Binibining Pilipinas Universe winner Aileen Damiles and their two daughters.

[25][26][27] Cojuangco died on June 16, 2020, of heart failure and pneumonia at the St. Luke's Medical Center – Global City, six days after his 85th birthday.

11729, declaring every 10th of June each year a public special holiday in the province of Tarlac as Danding Cojuangco Day.

[32] In March 2024, the Urdaneta City Bypass Road in Pangasinan was renamed as the Ambassador Eduardo 'Danding' M. Cojuangco Jr. Avenue by virtue of Republic Act No.