Former Occidental Mindoro gov dies

Mario Gene Mendiola (Photo posted on Facebook by Matthew Mendiola)

CITY OF CALAPAN—Former Occidental Mindoro governor Mario Gene Mendiola died Wednesday evening, his son Matthew announced on social media. He was 63.

“No words can describe the pain I’m feeling right now. My beloved father, my best friend, has passed away in the presence of our whole family,” Matthew said Thursday in a Facebook post.

Mendiola served as governor of the province from 2013 to 2019 and vice governor from 2010-2013.

Matthew did not provide additional information, including the cause of his father’s demise. The family could not be contacted for details.

The former governor had been sick for a while, said a friend who requested not to be named for lack of authority to speak for the Mendiola family.

Mario Gene Mendiola entered politics at a young age after his father, the late assemblyman Pedro Mendiola, was gunned down while delivering a speech at the San Vicente plaza in Sablayan town in April 1986. Pedro Mendiola was representative of the province to the Interim Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1986.

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