Reelected Davao board member dies before re-proclamation

TAGUM CITY, Philippines — A reelected member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) of Davao del Norte’s 1st district died early Monday, hours before he was to be re-proclaimed winner in the May 9 elections.

Alfredo de Veyra Sr. succumbed to a lingering liver illness at a Tagum City hospital where he was rushed late Sunday, said his eldest son and namesake Alfredo Jr.

He was 71.

With all but one of the six local government units able to completely transmit election returns (ERs), the provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) decided to proclaim De Veyra and four others as elected board members. He ran under the ruling Liberal Party.

By then, De Veyra, an optometrist, had emerged as third with the most number of votes garnered for the five-member provincial board.

However, upon the completion of the transmittal of ERs from Asuncion municipality, De Veyra was able to dislodge Board member Shirley Belen Aala, from second place, hence the PBOC scheduled a re-proclamation.

“We are saddened by his demise, but somehow overwhelmed and grateful for the people’s trust as shown by the (election results),” Alfredo Jr. said.

He said they had offered to the party a family member as his late father’s replacement but declined to give a name. The younger De Veyra, also a physician, is a Tagum village councilman./rga