Newly elected Isabela town mayor dies

CITY OF CAUAYAN—The newly elected mayor of the coastal town of Palanan died on Friday, six days after suffering from a heart attack on the eve of the May 9 polls.

Angelito “Bernie” Bernardo had fallen into a coma at Isabela United Doctors Medical Center here where he was taken after collapsing on Sunday.

Richie Andam, the mayor-elect’s cousin, said Bernardo’s remains would be airlifted back to Palanan, a town separated from mainland Luzon by the Sierra Madre ranges and which could only be reached by airplane or boat.

Bernardo, an incumbent town councilor who ran under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, edged rivals Rufino Gonzales (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats) and Vice Mayor Pacita Atanacio (Liberal Party).

The  board of canvassers proclaimed Bernardo on May 12. He would have replaced his brother, outgoing Mayor Angelo Bernardo Jr.

Due to Bernardo’s death, his cousin, vice mayor-elect Rody Bernardo Jr., would be sworn in as mayor following the rule on succession. Another cousin, Elizabeth Bernardo-Ochoa, would be sworn in as vice mayor being the No. 1 councilor-elect.

Bernardo was the son of the late Mayor Angelo Bernardo Sr.

Palanan was where Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo made his last stand against pursuing American soldiers in 1901./rga