Wycoco’s Ecija townmates hold prayer vigil

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija — A pall of gloom descended on this town after one of its illustrious sons, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco, suffered a stroke and fell into a deep coma last Wednesday morning.

As of press time, the 59-year-old Wycoco, a former police general before President Arroyo tapped him to head the NBI, was still comatose at the intensive care unit of the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) in Manila.

He was diagnosed to have suffered a hemorrhagic stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm in the brain, according to MDH cardiologist Dante Morales.

Members of the Sister Biding Foundation (SBF) here have started a prayer vigil in Barangay Palasinan for Wycoco’s recovery.

Businesswoman Biding Lumbang-Garcia, founder of the SBF, said she would gather their 15,000 members to pray for the speedy recovery of Wycoco, who hails from Barangay San Fernando Sur.

"We are hoping that Director Wycoco will hurdle the biggest crisis of his life," said Garcia, who tapped the NBI director’s younger brother, former councilor Jumar Wycoco, as running mate in the 2004 mayoral elections in this town.

Garcia and Jumar both lost to Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco and Vice Mayor Mar Simbillo, but filed separate poll protests, claiming massive electoral fraud.

Garcia described Wycoco as a devoted family man and a dedicated public servant.

"Here in Cabiao, he is famous for being generous and philanthropic," she said, adding that Wycoco gave out barangay patrol vehicles and funded the construction of classrooms in Barangays San Fernando Sur, San Roque and San Vicente.

Wycoco is the eldest in a brood of seven boys and three girls.