Former Manila Mayor Bagatsing, 90

Former Manila Mayor Ramon Bagatsing died at 5:30 a.m. yesterday in his residence in Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa. He was 90.

He is survived by wife Juanita Hubria Sevilla and children, Rica, former congressmen Amado and Ramon Jr., Jesus, Manuel, Eduardo and Velentino.

Bagatsing was mayor of Manila from 1972 to 1986. He was reelected mayor in 1980.

Born on Aug. 19, 1916, in Fabrica, Sigay, Negros Occidental, Bagatsing led a colorful life as a Manila policeman, soldier and politician.

He started his public career as a patrolman in the Manila Police Department in 1939 up to 1941.

When the Second World War broke out in 1941, he enlisted in the US Armed Forces in the Far East, which fiercely resisted the Japanese invasion forces. He started out as a first sergeant from 1941 to 1943, promoted to first lieutenant in 1947, and promoted to captain in 1957 and then major in 1959.

After a sting as public relations and personnel manager of Elizalde & Company from 1947-57, he entered politics and was elected congressman from the third district of Manila for the four-year term, 1957-61 and reelected for 1961-65. After his second term, he joined the Cabinet as chief of the Presidential Agency on Reforms and Government Operations from 1967 to 1969.

He ran again for his old seat in Congress, and was elected for a third term in 1969, serving as congressman until President Marcos dissolved Congress in 1972 after declaring martial law.