Leyteños see beloved governor off

TACLOBAN CITY—More than 20,000 people lined this city’s streets as early as 8 a.m. Monday to pay their respects as the funeral procession for former Governor Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez passed by.

Romualdez’s glass coffin was placed on a flatbed truck adorned with white flowers. Four policemen stood as an honor guard around the casket.

A convoy of about 100 vehicles, including police cars, accompanied the truck which wend its way from the Romualdez ancestral home on Real Street to the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport where a private plane waited to take the remains back to Manila.

Some people waved white and purple strips of cloth as the procession passed. Others held up pictures of Romualdez with words that read, “We will forever remember Kokoy,” “Thank you Kokoy,” and “The number one governor of Leyte.”

Son Benjamin Philip Romualdez said the outpouring of sympathy only strengthened his belief that the Romualdez family was deeply loved by the people of Leyte.

“To all of you, thank you very much. Don’t you worry, he is still with us. Look around. You will see him in the projects that he had done for the province,” he said.

One of these is the historical San Juanico Bridge which connects Leyte and Samar islands.

Romualdez’s sister, former first lady and now Ilocos Representative Imelda Marcos, thanked Leyteños for the love and honor given to her younger brother. “The show of affection was a testament more expressive than words,” she said.

Romualdez, 81, died of a lingering illness at the Makati Medical Center on February 21.

Known for his white hair and  all-white attire, he was Leyte governor from 1967 to 1986. He served as ambassador to the United States, China and Saudi Arabia during the administration of his brother-in-law, President Ferdinand Marcos.

His remains were brought to Tacloban for a three-day wake before being flown back to Manila for interment at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City Tuesday.