Five days after death of brother: Barili mayor passes away

CEBU, Philippines —  Barili, Cebu Mayor Marlon Garcia died dawn on Sunday, September 6, weeks after he was hospitalized in August for COVID-19 and just hours before his brother, former Dumanjug mayor Nelson Garcia, was laid to rest.

According to the family, Marlon already tested negative for COVID-19 around the third week of August and had developed COVID anti-bodies. His immediate cause of death is yet unknown.

In a statement Sunday afternoon, the family said Marlon died at Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City where Nelson was also confined.

“He was passionate in his advocacy for the upliftment of the lives of the people of Barili, Cebu, whom he served as Mayor since 2016, and previously, as Vice Mayor. He wholeheartedly served the Province of Cebu as Vice President for Internal Affairs of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines - Cebu Chapter,” the statement reads.

“In the weeks leading to his untimely passing, Mayor Marlon was eager to be discharged so he could continue on in his relentless efforts for the economic revival of Barili,” it added.

Marlon died five days after Nelson did. Nelson’s cause of death was not made public.

Marlon and Nelson are brothers of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. Their other brother, Winston, wrote on Facebook Sunday morning:

“To lose one brother is painful enough, but to lose another brother in the same week, my heart just cannot take any further. The true fighter that he was, my brother Marlon has been fighting for his life for the last few weeks.”

Marlon was the sixth child of former governor Pablo Garcia and the late Esperanza Fiel Garcia, a former judge. Nelson was the fourth child.

COVID Infection

Marlon was one of the seven mayors in Cebu who got infected by the coronavirus disease.

The governor said in early August that Marlon may have been infected even before she joined him in Barili on August 2 to launch the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) adventure, which was among the activities introduced during the re-opening of tourism activities in southern Cebu.

At that point, she said Marlon’s health was improving.

The governor herself got tested on August 6 and was found negative for COVID-19.

Like Marlon, his vice mayor, Julieto Flores, also tested positive for COVID.

Flores said in early August that he was with Marlon last on July 31 when they met with fisherfolk in Barili.

On August 2, he informed Marlon that he would not be able to attend the ATV adventure launch because he was not feeling well.

At that time, Marlon reportedly told him that he, too, was not feeling very well.

On August 5, Flores underwent swab testing and two days later, learned that he was positive for COVID-19. He was not hospitalized but had to be isolated.

Workaholic Mayor

Flores said Barili lost a workaholic mayor.

He told The Freeman that Marlon’s performance and plans for the town are what made him support the mayor even if they belong to different political groups.

"Mayor is very much workaholic. Grabe ang iyang pagdala sa lungsod, nindot ang iyang plano, that’s why bisan lahi mi og partido, nisuporta ko niya kay nakita nako sa iyaha ang iyang dedication sa Barili," Flores said.

(The mayor was a workaholic. He managed the town well, he has very good plans, that’s why I supported him despite us belonging to different political parties. I saw his dedication to Barili.)

His death, Flores said, will have a huge effect on the town.

"Dako kaayo epekto kay si Mayor duol kaayo sa mga tawo with the support of Congressman PJ and Governor Gwen so ang expectation sa mga tawo dako kaayo nga makahatag siya og serbisyo ug proyekto sa tanan," he said.

(It will have a huge effect because the mayor was very close to the people and had the support of Congressman Pablo John Garcia and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia so the people expected him to provide service and implement projects.)

Pablo John is also Marlon’s brother.

As successor, Flores said he will continue what Marlon has started. Marlon reportedly wanted to concretize roads in the town, build a modern public market, promote tourism, and improve the municipal hall. — JMO (FREEMAN)