ILOILO – Mayor Larry Villanueva of San Dionisio, Iloilo passed away at 1:45 a.m. yesterday. He was 56.
Villanueva, known to have hypertension, succumbed to liver cancer.
He was taken to the Iloilo Mission Hospital in Jaro district on Sept. 26.
The mayor also had his specimen collected for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing. His result came back negative.
Weeks prior to his demise, Villanueva’s mother also passed away and was scheduled to be buried on Oct. 3.
Villanueva was the town mayor of San Dionisio since 2016. He sought reelection in the May 13,2019 midterm election and won against then Mayor Peter Paul Lopez.
Messages of condolences and tributes on social media poured for the late town mayor on Monday.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said Villanueva’s passing has brought sadness not only to the members of his family but also to the good people of San Dionisio.
“Naga-unong kita sa bilog nga probinsya kag sa aton kabanwahanan sa pagtaliwan ni Mayor Villanueva,” said Defensor.
He described the mayor’s passing as untimely.
“Tani ginhatagan man kita sang malawig nga tiempo para madugang-dugangan ang pag-upod namon sa serbisyo pero ti ginbawi na sia sang ginoo, gulpiyada lang,” said Defensor.
Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Iloilo Chapter also extended their sympathies.
Following the rule of succession, Vice Mayor Darwin Bajada will become San Dionisio’s new mayor, according to Department of Interior and Local Government – Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay.
On the other hand, the Number 1 municipal councilor, Erma Perez, will become the vice mayor.
“Since si vice mayor ang masaka asmayor, so ang Number 1 SB (Sangguniang Bayan) member ang masaka as vice mayor. Ang nag-create sang vacancy is the first SB member, who is Perez. Ang manner sang replacement dapat ang nominee or i-replace will come from the party of honorable Perez and should be appointed of governor,” explained Sumagaysay./PN
