Ex-Occidental Mindoro town mayor dies

Former San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Mayor Jose Villarosa passed away at 79 years old on Tuesday, May 24, his daughter said in a social media post. Photo from Jose Villarosa’s Facebook account

CITY OF CALAPAN—Former San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Mayor Jose Tapales Villarosa died Tuesday, May 24, his daughter lawyer Bunny Villarosa-Kalaw announced in a Facebook post. He was 79.

The former mayor also served as Occidental Mindoro representative from 1992 to 1998 and provincial governor from 2001 to 2004. He was the mayor of San Jose from 2010 to 2013.

“As much as we would like to feel your tight hugs or presence to give us comfort in this difficult time, we appreciate you joining our online services, and we also welcome an onsite traditional wake at Capilla de San Francisco at Santuario de San Antonio [in Makati City] from Wednesday to Friday this week,” Villarosa-Kalaw said.

Villarosa’s family did not provide details about his death.

“Today, we remember the former mayor, governor, and congressman for his love for the people and outstanding service to the province, Occidental Mindoro. He will be remembered by all of us with gratitude and admiration,” said Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato, in her social media post.

In 2016, Villarosa became controversial for being accused of 12 counts of graft and 12 counts of technical malversation for allegedly using P2.92 million tobacco excise tax when he was San Jose mayor from 2010 to 2011 in projects that did not benefit farmer-beneficiaries.

In 2006, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court convicted Villarosa for allegedly masterminding the 1997 murder of the sons of his political nemesis Ricardo Quintos but his conviction was later overturned in 2008 by the Court of Appeals due to lack of evidence.

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