Ex-Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia; 95

Former Gov. Pablo Garcia, FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY—Former Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, the patriarch of the most dominant political family in the province, died on Wednesday night. He was 95.

His son and incumbent Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia confirmed his father’s death in a post on Facebook.

“It is with deep sorrow that the family of Pablo ‘Pabling’ Paras Garcia announces his passing. The family requests prayers for his eternal repose, and privacy in this difficult time of profound grief,” Pablo John said.The wake and interment services are open only to immediate family members, but the family said necrological services might be held once quarantine restrictions in the province were lifted.

The details and cause of the Garcia patriarch’s death had yet to be announced by the family.

Legacy

Cebu Board Member John Ismael Borgonia said the provincial board would pass a resolution recognizing the legacy of Garcia, who also served as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

In a post on Facebook, Borgonia described Garcia as a “true public servant” and an “epitome [of] public service.”

Garcia’s wife, Judge Esperanza Garcia, died in 2016. He lost two sons last year—Nelson, a former mayor of Dumanjug; and Marlon, the mayor of Barili.

His other children are Gwendolyn, the incumbent governor of Cebu; Winston, the former general manager of the Government Service Insurance System; and Diedra, Byron and Farla.A graduate of the University of San Carlos, Garcia ranked third in the 1951 Bar Examinations, the same year he began his political career as a municipal councilor of Barili town in south Cebu.

From 1969 to 1971, Garcia served as vice governor of Cebu.

In 1987, he was elected representative of Cebu’s third congressional district, a position he held until 1995. Garcia served as Cebu governor from 1995 to 2004, and was succeeded by his daughter, Gwendolyn.

In 2007, he was again elected to Congress, representing the second district of Cebu. That same year, the Garcia family established the One Cebu political party.

Garcia served as chair of the House committee on revision of laws in 2007 and was later appointed deputy speaker in May 2008. —DALE G. ISRAEL AND NESTLE SEMILLA