Former Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. dies at 82

ILOILO CITY—Former Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., one of Iloilo’s longest-serving political leaders, died early on Tuesday. He was 82.

Tupas, a close ally of President Aquino in the Liberal Party, succumbed to prostate cancer complications at 1:35 a.m. at Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, according to his eldest child and namesake Iloilo Rep. Niel “Junjun” Tupas Jr.

His wife and former Barotac Viejo town Mayor Myrna Causing-Tupas, and their seven children and their spouses were with him at his bedside.

Tupas was the patriarch of one of Iloilo’s most dominant political clans.

He served as governor from 2001 to 2010, representative of the province’s 5th congressional district from 1987 to 1998, assemblyman in the Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1984, and mayor of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, from 1972 to 1978.

“Tatay was a true public servant and until the end, he talked about public service and politics. He will be missed a lot,” Representative Tupas told the Inquirer in telephone interview.

“As governor, he made it a policy to open the doors to his office at all times,” said Manuel Mejorada, former provincial administrator who worked under the governor for nine years.

He said the governor “insisted on giving everybody who came to see him equal opportunity to speak with him” regardless of their background.

His remains lie at the Loyola Memorial Chapel Commonwealth in Quezon City starting late Tuesday afternoon until Thursday. He will be brought to Iloilo on Friday for a wake either at the Tupas residence in Jaro District in Iloilo City or in Barotac Viejo, according to Representative Tupas.