DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Zafiro Respicio, mayor of this city during the term of President Cory Aquino and an opposition leader against Ferdinand Marcos, died following a heart attack on Monday. He was 66.
Respicio was at home in Makilala, North Cotabato, when he suffered the attack at 6 a.m., according to Antonio Ajero, editor in chief of the local daily Davao Edge.
Respicio was rushed to a Kidapawan City hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
Respicio is remembered in Davao City as an anti-Marcos leader who was once allied but later parted ways with a young Rodrigo Duterte, who defeated him in the 1988 mayoralty elections.
Respicio first appeared in Davao City’s roster of councilors in 1972, shortly after the declaration of martial law, when he had been put in jail for leading a demonstration at the University of Mindanao where he used to be a student leader.
He won a seat in the Batasang Pambansa in 1984 and served as a Davao City assemblyman during the Edsa People Power revolt in February 1986.
Cory Aquino appointed Respicio Davao City officer in charge.
Ajero said the former mayor had been diagnosed with diabetes and had been undergoing dialysis for end-stage renal failure.—Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao