Negros Occ. town mayor dies of liver illness; vice mayor son takes over

Death of a public servant (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ ALEXIS CORPUZ)

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — Cauayan Mayor Jerry Tabujara who had been suffering from a lingering liver ailment, succumbed to multiple complications at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City at 4 a.m. Wednesday, Vice Mayor John Rey Tabujara said.

The mayor was 68.

As the vice mayor of the town, under the rules of succession in the Local Government Code, Tabujara’s son, John Rey, has taken his oath as the mayor of Cauayan.John Rey’s second cousin, Cauayan’s first councilor Rico James Tabujara will assume the post of vice mayor.

The Philippine flag at government buildings in Cauayan were flying half-mast on Thursday for the death of the town mayor.

Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ. 6th District) said, “Today, a loyal friend and supporter left us. His wisdom, laughter and integrity will surely be missed.”

She described the mayor’s passing as heartbreaking “but you did not go alone, a part of us whose lives have been touched by your kindness, goes with you.”

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson also extended his deepest condolences to the family of Mayor Tabujara.

“I will always remember Mayor Jerry to be passionate about his work as a public official of Cauayan and a loyal partymate who never left me in spite of pressure to do so,” he added.

Jerry Tabujara was mayor of Cauayan from 1998-2007, vice mayor from 2007 -2016 and was re-elected mayor 2016.

John Rey said his father’s condition deteriorated after he underwent surgery late last year for the removal of his gall bladder and bile, and for a bypass.

His father ran for re-election as mayor and won in the May polls despite being unable to campaign, the vice mayor said.

He said his father returned to Cauayan on May 8 for the elections the next day, but was again hospitalized in Manila soon after.

The remains of the mayor are tentatively expected to arrive in Negros on Friday, and will immediately be brought to Cauayan. No date has been set yet for his funeral, newly installed Mayor John Rey Tabujara said.

The late mayor is also survived by his wife, Ananita Tabujara, and other children Analiza and Christine.
SFM