Former Albay town mayor raring for comeback in 2016 passes away

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — The former mayor of Guinobatan town, Juan M. Garcia, passed away on Monday, at the Aquinas University Hospital of Legazpi (AUHL). Garcia, who turned 68 only last Dec. 8, had been confined at AUHL for almost two weeks battling pneumonia. He succumbed to cardiac arrest on Monday, said Marcial Tuanqui, a brother-in-law of Garcia. The former town chief executive is survived by his wife Tess and their seven children Joseph, Cheryll, Marilen, John, Catherine, Paul and Juan Miguel III. His remains lie in state at their residence in Guinobatan town. Garcia, a San Beda College Law graduate, started his political career in 1986 when he was appointed town mayor by then President Corazon “Cory” C. Aquino following the February 1986 People Power revolution that catapulted Cory to the presidency. Garcia held the post for 18 years and was considered the longest serving mayor of the town. He once served as the president of the Albay Municipal Mayors League. He was about to challenge incumbent Guinobatan Mayor Gemma Ongjuco in the upcoming national and local elections next year.  SFM