Former Las Piñas Mayor Nene Aguilar. Image from Facebook / City of Las Piñas
MANILA, Philippines — Former Las Piñas mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar has succumbed to a lingering heart ailment on Friday. He was 74.
Las Pinas Mayor Imelda Aguilar said her husband died at 4:12 am while confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City.
“Nene, it pains all of us that you are no longer with us, but we know that you have accomplished your mission in this world, not only to your family and loved ones, but to the hundreds of families you have served and supported throughout your years in service,” Aguilar said in an official statement.
“Your years as the local chief executive have led to the unprecedented growth of our city,” she added.
Nene served as mayor of Las Pinas for 18 years. Under his watch, Las Piñas rose from being a salt-farming town south of Manila to being one of the highly industrialized cities in the region.
The flag in the Las Piñas City Hall is now flying under half-mast to mourn the death of the former mayor.