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[av_heading heading=’ Cardiac arrest kills Isabela mayor’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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Monday, April 17, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Mayor Enrique “Quito” Montilla III has died. Isabela, Negros Occidental is now in a “state of mourning.”
Montilla’s death after suffering cardiac arrest around 12 noon on April 13, Maundy Thursday, was unexpected, according to wife Irene.
He had a kidney condition and had been undergoing dialysis since July 2015, she said. But “otherwise, he was pretty wise. He was very much the same. The cardiac arrest came quite suddenly and unexpectedly.”
From their house in this city, Montilla was rushed on board an ambulance to the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital, which was five minutes away, but the mayor had no more pulse when they arrived, said Irene.
The medical staff tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail, she said.
Montilla’s brother, the municipal councilor Patrick Miguel, told the press on Sunday they will hold a special session that day to officially declare the town under a “state of mourning” from April 17 to 18.
Vice Mayor Joselito Malabor will assume as mayor.
Today Montilla’s remains will be taken to Isabela where they will be laid until Tuesday.
On Tuesday a mass will be held at around 8 a.m., after which the remains will be taken to Barangay Ubay, Pulupandan town, to be interred at the family mausoleum.
Montilla was a “very loving husband and father” who spoiled his children, said Irene.
He was happy serving as mayor, dreaming that everyone in Isabela, especially the youth, gets educated, Irene said.
He believes education — the cornerstone of his administration — provides a path to personal progress, she added.
Montilla and Irene had three children: Alberto, 21; Juan Miguel Enrique, 20; and Enrique IV, 19.
Montilla was the president of the Binalbagan-Isabela Planters’ Association before he was elected Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and served from 1988 to 1991 (he was the youngest Board member at the time).
In 2013 he was elected mayor of Isabela, unopposed. He was re-elected in 2016, defeating Dhol Malabor with a 5,000 vote margin.
During his first term, Isabela was awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the first time.
His administration helped the town become disaster-ready with the acquisition of rescue vehicles and ambulances for barangays./PN
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