By Villamor Visaya Jr. – Correspondent/Philippine Daily Inquirer @VillVisayaJrINQ
TUGUEGARAO CITY — Sadanga mayor Gabino Ganggangan died after he collapsed while attending a wedding in Guinaang village in Bontoc, Mountain Province on Saturday, January 29, at around 10 p.m., the provincial government confirmed on Sunday. He was 60 years old.
It was not immediately clear from the officials the cause of his death but initial information revealed he had a cardiac arrest and was taken to the Bontoc General Hospital (BoGH) “in an unconscious state.”
Attempts to resuscitate him failed and he was pronounced dead at around 11 p.m.
His remains are at the BoGH morgue, the provincial government’s statement added.
Mayor Gabi, as he was fondly called, celebrated his 60th birthday on September 18, 2021.
“He joined our creator this evening. We deeply condole with his bereaved family, relatives and with the people of Sadanga. We lament with you and you are in our prayers,” the provincial government said in a post on Facebook.
Mountain Province Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan extended his sympathy to the relatives of the Sadanga mayor.
“With so much sadness and grief, we bid you goodbye. On behalf of the officialdom and people of Mountain Province. Our sincerest and deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” the governor posted in his own Facebook account.
“You are not only a loss to the people of Sadanga but to the whole Mt. Province as well. May you rest in paradise and look over us from the great beyond,” he added.
The second among five siblings, he has four children – FitzGerald, Adolf (a civil engineer), Nancy (a nurse), and Huzein (a marine engineer/seaman), daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. His wife, Lourdes Faguingas – Ganggangan, passed away more than a year ago.#