Friday, August 08, 2008 Toto Paglas dies at 48 By Malu C. Manar and Grace L. Plata
FORMER Datu Paglas mayor Datu Ibrahim "Toto" Paglas III passed away at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Davao Doctor's Hospital around 2 p.m. Thursday, his relatives said.
The 49-year-old Toto Paglas III, who is the grandson of former Senator Salipada K. Pendatun, died of bacterial meningitis with uncontrolled mellitus diabetis.
His relatives said Paglas's remains will be brought Friday to Digal Paglas town in Maguindanao.
Toto Paglas's death came as a surprise even to the locals who flocked to the Davao Doctor's Hospital Thursday morning to confirm Paglas's confinement.
Relatives, who were outside the ICU Thursday morning, refused to be interviewed by the media though a man, who claimed to be Paglas's nephew, said it was just a "general check-up."
Hospital authorities also refused to comment; however, some staff said four resident doctors were attending to Paglas.
Sources said Paglas was admitted to the hospital Monday and immediately slipped into a coma. The illness allegedly started as an ear infection that got worse.
Meningitis is a bacterial or non-bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
Many are mourning Paglas's demise. For lawyer Suharto Ambulodto, former election supervisor of Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat, said that Toto Paglas is a datu with a vision and dedication, "who is not afraid of re-thinking paradigm and in engaging the calls of his time."
"We would now never know how could the Armm fared from 2001 to 2005 had its people not been denied and deprived the privileged of being served and led by a Datu with a vision and dedication," Ambulodto said.
Paglas lost in the gubernatorial elections in Armm in 2005.
For Manuel Concepcion Jr., Paglas is among the best that the Bangsamoros have shown to this country, Philippines, and the world.
"I was in the US when I heard how he transformed his town into a productive one, as all the residents in the area valued hard and honest work. To be voted as one of the outstanding young men in the Philippines is an honor; to render service to his people using his talent and ability is leadership at the highest level," Concepcion said.
Datu Paglas, one of the towns in Maguindanao, is still being ruled by the Paglas family. But it was Toto Paglas, nephew of former MILF chairman Salamat Hashim, which "converted" the once dying town to a progressive one when he provided residents in the area sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Paglas assumed the post as mayor of Datu Paglas in 1988 at age 24, two years after the death of his father, Datu Ibrahim Paglas II, who was appointed as OIC governor of Maguindanao after the Edsa revolution in 1986.
"The MILF rebels and former lawless elements are now living a normal life with their families in my town," said Toto during the 1st Mindanao Population, Health, and Environment Conference held in General Santos City in 2007.
Paglas was appointed vice chair of the Mindanao Coordinating Council from 2000 to 2001. The council was organized by former President Joseph Estrada to rehabilitate and develop conflict areas that were affected by his all-out war against the MILF.
Chit Asis, former director general of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, said the Liberal Party would surely miss Toto Paglas as "the best LP Armm chairman we ever had."
"He was a man of genuine love and commitment, dedicated to the betterment of the Moro people. He had a vision, and mission, which he not only preached but worked for," Asis said.
Paglas also served as the president and CEO of Paglas Corporation in Armm.
The Paglas Corporation and its partner company, La Frutera Inc., jointly manage a 3,200-acre banana plantation, the largest and only foreign investment in the Philippine Muslim Region.
Prior to that he was board member and chairman of Advisory Committee, Business and Peace Program, Philippines Business for Social Progress; Head, Armm Movers Group, GMA Job Creation Program; Board Member, Public Estates Authority and PEA Tollway Corporation, appointed by President Arroyo in 2004. He was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Davao.
He was the second child of a brood of six of couple Datu Ibrahim Paglas Jr. (deceased) and Bai Aga Pendatun.
