Ex-PIA Southern Mindanao chief Efren Elbanbuena, 66

Former PIA regional director Efren Elbanbuena. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

DAVAO CITY — Efren Elbanbuena, former head of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Southern Mindanao, died on Monday, April 1, due to complications from diabetes.

He was 66.

Elbanbuena dedicated his life serving the country through the PIA from July 1973 to November 2017, said Frances Mae Macapagat, PIA 11 regional director.

Family, friends and media colleagues remember him to have led PIA-11 since 1992 until his retirement in February 2018.

He entered government service in 1973 as a staff assistant at the now-defunct Department of Public Information.

“His exemplary dedication to public service in his forty-four years in the government has been marked by determination, selflessness, and patriotism,” Macapagat said.

A resident of Panabo City, Elbanbuena was known outside the service as “dependable, passionate and strong-willed, these are true traits of a great man,” Macapagat said.

“You will always be a part of the PIA family. You will always be remembered with fond memories as the Agency’s DG (Davao Guy),” Macapagat wrote on Facebook.

The late former PIA director’s remains lie at Sta Theresa Funeral in Panabo City.

“It saddens me—and us—to learn of the untimely departure of a dear boss, friend, and father,” said Edith Isidro, PIA staff.

“Since I joined PIA, he really stood as a kind mentor who molded me to become a strong woman with a contented in life. I pray for the peaceful repose of his soul. We really miss Boss Efren,” Isidro said./lzb