Ricardo Silvestre (Photo fromthe Marilao Municipal Government)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines—The town of Marilao in Bulacan province mourned the passing of Mayor Ricardo Silvestre, who was killed in a car accident on Sunday afternoon. He was 65.
Silvestre was in the back seat of his white Toyota Land Cruiser driven by Rodel Alcantara when they crashed against a concrete post in Clark Freeport at 5:40 p.m. after the driver reportedly lost control of the car.
Investigators said Silvestre had just bought a gift for his wife, Luisa, who would celebrate her 61st birthday the following day, before he figured in the accident.
The mayor’s car had just exited the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway and was entering the free port area when it rammed the electric post, said special agent Jose Evan Lee, desk officer at the Integrated Command Center of Clark Development Corp.
Initial reports said the driver, who sustained injuries, could have momentarily fallen asleep behind the wheel.
The mayor’s secretary, Karen Bonifacio, who was accompanying him at the time of the accident, was seated at the back of the driver’s seat and also sustained injuries.
Tributes
Silvestre and his driver were taken to Medical City Clark, where the mayor died at 7:09 p.m. Bonifacio was initially treated at the hospital of the Angeles University Foundation before she was transferred to a hospital in Bulacan.
“The government of Marilao is grieving the death of our beloved mayor… We sympathize with his families and those who loved him dearly,” the town government said in a Facebook post on Monday.
It described Silvestre, who was serving his second term, as “a good person and a faithful public servant.”
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and Bocaue Mayor Eduardo Villanueva Jr., who is the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Bulacan chapter, condoled with Silvestre’s family.
According to the officials, Bulacan had lost a “genuine leader who served the interest of the people of Marilao.”
Silvestre was a former chair of Barangay Patubig and served as chair of the Association of Barangay Captains of Marilao. He is survived by his wife and their four children.
—CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE
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