Carmen mayor resigns due to cancer

Virginio E. Villamor, who has been serving mayor of Carmen town for the last 16 years, has announced his resignation from his post effective yesterday because of health reasons.

Villamor, in his 60s, was diagnosed with cancer after the mayoralty election last year. He notified Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Vice Mayor Sonia Pua, and members of the municipal council that he was resigning. 

“After today, I will become a private citizen once again. To those who are disappointed that I am leaving, I beg your indulgence. Returning to private life will allow me to take care of my health and in God’s goodness, allow me to be with you a little longer,” Villamor said in his pre-recorded valedictory during the “Pasidungog ni Mayor Villamor,” an event organized by Pua and the municipal council. 

The complex, where the event was held and the mayor made his public announcement, was filled with people from all walks of life — government employees, teachers, students, barangay officials, and the rest of the town constituents.

A written version of the mayor’s valedictory address was printed on the back of a whole-size colored cardboard, the front side of which had his photo on it and a passage from Ecclesiastes of the Bible.

His speech was already recorded in Cebuano dialect, and cardboards, with his speech translated in English on it, were distributed to the people inside the complex.

When Villamor’s “speech” started, Garcia and the audience were seen crying and in tears. The mayor was just sitting on a chair, reading the text of his speech as it was being played on air.

The mayor told his people: “I leave public office with a heart filled with gratitude that, as I served you, my life has become richer. I treasure all of you who have become my friends.”

Carmen Villamor, the daughter of the mayor, said the family has been happy of her father’s decision to step down. “It’s a sad moment for us but he leaves with great pride and honor.”

“He needs to retire because he needs to take care of his health,” said Carmen, adding that after the elections, the physician told the Villamor family that the mayor had cancer and may have only six months to live.

It has been over 13 months since, and Mayor Villamor had continued to serve his town. Until then, he rarely missed attending government activities even if he had appointed Vice Mayor Pua as acting mayor since last year.

Villamor said the legacy that he will be leaving to his town is the way he has lived his life. “As mayor, I have tried to be an honest and dedicated leader. I have not enriched myself in office. I have shown respect and kindness to all, including opponents and those who persecute me,” he said.

In the last elections, Villamor and Pua ran under Barug Sugbo, the party opposed to Governor Garcia’s. The governor, however, said the party affiliation has since then been out of the issue and recalled Villamor was the first person who went to her office and talked to her.

Garcia lost in Carmen by 4,000 votes in the last 2004 gubernatorial elections but she praised and respected Villamor highly. “He is not selfish. He never hangs on to his position,” Garcia told The FREEMAN.

On stage, the governor told Villamor and the crowd: “Villamor may cease from being public servant but you will be my forever good friend.”

After the “Pasidungog”, Garcia, the Villamor family, Pua and the councilors immediately proceeded to the municipal hall and, at about 5pm, Pua took her oath of office as the new town mayor.

Villamor’s son, Martin Gerard, who is the first councilor, also took his oath as vice mayor while another son of the mayor took an oath of office, replacing Martin Gerard in the council.

In her speech, Pua promised to Mayor Villamor that she would continue the projects that he started. — Garry B. Lao/RAE