Barangay Lawaan captain Laceda, 52

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay captain of Lawaan 1, Talisay City died of a heart attack yesterday dawn while reportedly inside a hotel room in Cebu City.

Lawaan 1 chairman Jerson Laceda, 52, was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital after he was seen unconscious in his hotel room but was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Joy Tumulak, the barangay's first councilman, has taken over the post of Laceda.

Tumulak took his oath of office before Mayor Socrates Fernandez yesterday morning.

Tumulak, who learned of the incident at 4 a.m. yesterday, said he was "shocked" upon learning of the news, although he said Laceda had mentioned about the problem with his heart in the past, the news about his death came as a surprise to him.

Tumulak said Laceda had complained of chest pains and after visiting his doctor two weeks ago he was placed under medication.

The new barangay chief said Laceda, who was engaged in the scrap business, could have just rested in one of the hotels in Cebu City.

He said the late barangay chief had earlier told them that he was about to get busy with his business, and "usually when he's at it, he stays in hotels to rest."

Laceda had also been said to have been suffering from diabetes, heart enlargement, and goiter.

Meanwhile, Tumulak said they still have to decide if they will pick a replacement for the seat he had vacated in the council, considering that it is still a few months to go before the next barangay election, if it pushes through.

He said that it had already happened in the past that he did not pick a replacement for Sabeniano Segue, a councilman who died in 2005. But since there are members of the council who have suggested names to complete the seven-seat council, they have decided to tackle it after Laceda is buried, he said.

Laceda, who was a first term barangay chief, left behind wife Angelina and two sons, 32 and 28. 

He was supposed to celebrate his 53rd birthday tomorrow (July 22), which he had celebrated in advance with the barangay council last Friday. He ran for city councilor under the opposition party in the 2007 elections, but did not make it.

His body now lies at his home in Villa Raya Subdivision, Lawaan 1. — THE FREEMAN