Re-elected Negros village executive dies of cardiac arrest

BACOLOD City, Philippines – A second-term barangay councilman (kagawad) in E. B. Magalona town in Negros Occidental died of cardiac arrest, about eight hours after being proclaimed winner in last Monday’s barangay elections. 

Jonathan Hechanova, 44, of Barangay Nanca, was declared dead on arrival at the Ikaayong Lawas Hospital in Victorias City Tuesday morning, according to a report of ABS-CBN Bacolod. 

Hechanova, who worked for a car contractor, won his second term as kagawad with the sixth most number of votes and was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Monday night.

Hechanova’s wife Marlin said her husband had been suffering from hypertension and he might have been stressed out after several weeks of campaigning. 

She said they waited for the poll results till late Monday and went home only after all the winners were proclaimed. 

She said they slept late, and at around 5 a.m. Tuesday, she heard her husband snoring loudly. When she checked on him, she found him struggling for breath. 

E. B. Magalona Mayor David Albert Lacson said he was saddened by Hechanova’s death, describing him as a good public servant as he was re-elected by his constituents.

E.B. Magalona municipal election officer Joveniano de la Fuente said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will have to decide who will replace Hechanova in the barangay council.

Based on the Local Government Code, DILG provincial director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag said the seventh kagawad would take the place of Hechanova, while the mayor would name who would occupy the vacated seventh spot from three nominees to be recommended by the barangay council.