Heat seen in death of unopposed mayoral bet

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—An unopposed candidate for mayor of Danao town, Bohol province, died on Thursday after suffering from what one of his friends said was apparently a heat-induced stroke.

Thomas Luis Gonzaga, former mayor of Danao who was running unopposed, died at Ramiro Community Hospital (RCH) in this city two days after he was found unconscious inside his house on Peñaflor Street on Tuesday.

He was 46.

According to Boy Pernia, a friend of the Gonzaga family, stress and extreme heat might have taken a toll on the candidate’s health. Most of the country is suffering from extreme heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon, with temperatures rising past 40 degrees Celsius.

Although Gonzaga was running unopposed for mayor under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), he was actively campaigning for UNA standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay as the party’s deputy coordinator for Bohol.

In 2010, Gonzaga gave Binay a resounding victory in Danao with 4,618 votes against then vice presidential contender Mar Roxas, who got 1,742.

Pernia said Gonzaga attended UNA meetings on Monday.

When Gonzaga got home late that night, he told his housemaid to wake him up at 8 a.m. the next day to attend a rally in Danao, at least 92 kilometers from here.

But on Tuesday, the housemaid found Gonzaga unconscious, prompting relatives and workers to bring him to RCH.

Gonzaga was supposed to attend UNA’s grand rally on Tuesday, said Danao Councilor Lirio Vitor, Gonzaga’s running mate.

Gonzaga was brought to the RCH intensive care unit where doctors were able to stabilize his condition. He died at 11:51 p.m. on Thursday, four days before the May 9 elections.

“We lost a great leader who had a big vision for Danao,” said Vitor in a phone interview.

Bohol Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Gonzaga’s friend and ally, said he was saddened by Gonzaga’s death.

“Mayor Tom was the epitome of transparent and selfless service,” said Aumentado.

He said Gonzaga gave his salary to the poor.

Gonzaga was Danao mayor from June 2004 to June 2013.