Cardinal Tagle’s cousin killed in car crash

DAGUPAN CITY—A close relative of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle died here on Tuesday night following a suspected heart attack while driving a car, police said on Wednesday.

Supt. Christopher Abrahano, police chief, said Manuel Gutierrez, 50, was on his way to Barangay Bonuan Binloc here when his car crashed into an electric post along the road in Bonuan Boquig at about 11:45 p.m.

Gutierrez is Cardinal Tagle’s second cousin.

A female passenger survived although her identity was not released to the media at press time.

Citing her account, Gutierrez’s brother, Ramon, said the victim may have had a heart attack because Gutierrez suddenly held his chest before crashing the vehicle into the post.

Gutierrez was a former assistant of former Mayor Benjamin Lim. He was employed by the Nazareth General Hospital at the time of his death.

Gutierrez accompanied Tagle during the cardinal’s visit to Pangasinan province in 2009 for the installation of Bishop Socrates Villegas as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese and in February last year for the proclamation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag as minor basilica.

In his Facebook page, Gutierrez posted a profile photo showing him and Cardinal Tagle.