Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel Jr. (Photo from the Facebook account of Surigao del Sur)
Butuan City – Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel Jr. died on the morning of Christmas Day 2018 at the age of 71 in Manila.
Pimente’s family said he died in his sleep, a day after he checked out of a hospital in Manila.
He insisted to be brought home to spend Christmas with his family.
Pimentel started his political career as barangay chairman in Tandag City. Then he served as mayor in the mining town of Carrascal for two terms, from 1992 to 2001.
The he was elected Surigao del Sur governor for three terms, serving from 2001 to 2010.
He secured another term as the Carrascal mayor, serving from 2010 to 2016.
He was again elected as governor in 2016.
According to reports, Pimentel earlier filed his candidacy for reelection in the 2019 polls, but he later withdrew his bid due to health reasons.
His younger brother, Tandag Mayor Alexander Pimentel, will run for governor instead.
Vice Gov. Manuel Alameda Sr. will take over as governor until someone else is elected in May 2019.
Pimentel’s family has yet to announce details of his wake and interment. /atm