CEBU, Philippines — The municipality of Sibonga, south of Cebu, was left in shock and despair yesterday after its mayor, Lionel Balondong Bacaltos, passed away.
Although no official confirmation has been released by Bacaltos family, several Cebu officials and residents of the town posted on Facebook about the beloved mayor s passing.
The Capitol, through its official news arm, Sugbo News, offered prayers to the mayor.
Let us pray for the eternal repose of Mayor Balondong, as we condole with his bereaved family, friends, relatives, and the entire people of the Municipality of Sibonga, Sugbo News posted yesterday in its facebook page.
Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas, a close friend and political ally of Bacaltos, was one of the first ones to also post on Facebook.
In his post, Gullas shared a photo of him and Bacaltos, which he captioned, Sakita sa akong gibati ron oi. Kuyog paman tawn ta gabii Mayor Balondong.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who was out for the Capitol s Caravan of Services when she heard of the news, expressed her disbelief and sadness in the mayor s untimely passing.
I am deeply saddened by the all-too-sudden passing of a dedicated public servant, loving husband and father, a trustworthy ally and a dear personal friend, Mayor Lionel Bacaltos, Garcia later shared in a statement.
He worked tirelessly to bring infrastructure projects and programs from the Capitol to Sibonga. All for the welfare and upliftment of his beloved constituents. He possessed that unique ability to bring out smiles and laughter from every person he met, Garcia added.
Garcia also shared how the mayor always had a ready smile for everyone.
Mayor Balondong (as he is fondly called) has gone too soon. We will all miss him, the governor shared.
First district Provincial Board Member Raul Bacaltos, a relative of the late mayor, also expressed sadness in Bacaltos passing.
We are saddened when we heard this afternoon that Mayor Balondong passed away. Aside from being a close relative, he is also a political ally of Partido Alayon. Wishing him peace and comfort in his afterlife. We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Bacaltos family, said PB Raul.
Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura, who is the President of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP-Cebu Chapter), also confirmed the passing of Mayor Bacaltos.
It is very sad that we lost another brilliant, a true public servant and a good friend in this great province, Shimura said.
Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv sympathized for the people of Sibonga on the passing of their mayor, whom he described as a responsible public servant.
Other officials in the province, as well as his constituents also took to social media their sadness over Bacaltos passing. — /ATO