Cebuano leaders grieve over loss of Rep. Raul Del Mar

CEBU CITY –– Cebuano leaders mourned the death of Rep. Raul Del Mar of Cebu City’s south district, praising his service and contribution to the growth of Cebu.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia said Del Mar is “well respected and loved.” She admitted that she was caught by surprise with the news since there were no reports that the congressman was sick.

Garcia said she remembered Del Mar as very conscientious with his duty and without any absent marks in Congress. He also arrived on time and never left the halls of the Congress until adjournment.

“We have lost a great Cebuano,” she said.

Former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña, a close friend and political ally of Del Mar, said the congressman sponsored the laws creating the Cebu Port Authority and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, which he described as “the first of its kind in allowing Cebu to manage her affairs instead of being micromanaged by the national government.”

“He fought our traditionally capital-centric government for resources other cities outside the NCR (National Capital Region) could only dream of,” Osmena added.

City Mayor Edgardo Labella issued Executive Order 106 declaring a city-wide period of mourning for the death of Del Mar.

He also directed all government offices in Cebu City to place all Philippine flags at half-staff.

The Cebu Citizens Press Council, a forum for media issues and for airing grievances, has also paid tribute to Del Mar for the support he gave to the local press.

Del Mar supported the Media Medical Aid Fund, Cebu Media Legal Aid as well as sourced funds for the upgrading of UP Cebu’s mass communication program’s newsroom laboratories.

The Del Mar family has not yet issued a statement on the congressman’s death.

Del Mar died on Monday night, Nov. 16, at a hospital in Manila. The cause of death is still unknown.