MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Adelino Sitoy has passed away, Malacañang confirmed Thursday.
“The Palace expresses its deep condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of Secretary Adelino Sitoy of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO),” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
Roque did not detail the reason behind Sitoy’s death.
“Sec. Sitoy was instrumental in the passage of the key legislative reform measures of the Duterte Administration. As head of PLLO, he made sure that there is stronger Executive-Legislative collaboration to bring about genuine and lasting change through legislation,” Roque said.
“We pray for the eternal repose of the good Secretary. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” he added.
In his pre-recorded address to the nation, President Rodrigo Duterte himself also announced the passing of Sitoy.
“I’m very sad to relay to you the death of a second Cabinet member. First was [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair] Danny Lim, second was Secretary Sitoy of the legislative liaison office. I will call for a break for about a minute and request to stand and we pray in silence,” Duterte said.
Sitoy resigned as vice mayor of Cordova, Cebu, when he was appointed as PLLO chief in 2016.
Before being elected as Cordova vice mayor, he was also the town’s mayor from 2007 to 2016.