Benguet mayor dies of cardiac arrest, tests positive for COVID-19

BAGUIO CITY –– Mayor Faustino Aquisan of Kabayan town, Benguet province, died of cardiac arrest on Saturday. He tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Aquisan was confined at the Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital here before his death, a statement from the Kabayan public information office said.

The results of the swab tests on the diseased mayor confirmed that he had the virus.

His remains were immediately cremated and his ashes were brought to the Rex Chapel of the Cathedral of Resurrection, also in this city.

Relatives said the mayor’s ashes would be taken to his residence in Barangay Cruz, La Trinidad, Benguet for interment, and then to his hometown in Kabayan, Benguet.

People who came in close contact with the mayor from March 6 to 19 were told to go on mandatory home quarantine.

They also have to wait for assessment and recommendations of the Contact Tracing Team, Patient Management and Monitoring Team, and Diagnostic Team.

Aquisan served as Kabayan mayor for three terms before running for congressman of Benguet in 2016. He lost in that election.

In 2019, he was elected again as Kabayan mayor.

LZB