Ex-Leyte governor dies in Makati hospital

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

FORMER Leyte governor Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez died Tuesday afternoon due to a lingering illness at the Makati Medical Center. He was 81.

Kokoy, younger brother of former first lady Imelda Marcos, served as governor of Leyte from 1967 until 1986, the year the country first witnessed the People Power (Edsa) Revolution that resulted in their downfall from power.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

“He was a very good man,” Bernardita Valenzuela, a close family friend, said in a brief interview.

Based on very limited information she gave, Kokoy died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Makati Medical Center.

Valenzuela, who is now an executive assistant to Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, a nephew of the former governor, said the family plans to bring the remains of Romualdez this Friday to Tacloban City for the family’s supporters and relatives to visit.

Kokoy’s son, Ferdinand Martin, is the incumbent representative of Leyte’s first district.

Kokoy also served as the country’s ambassador to the United States during the Marcos regime.

The Provincial Government under Governor Jericho Petilla has offered a necrological service at the Capitol.

The flag at the Capitol will be placed at half-mast starting today, Wednesday, as a sign of respect to the former governor.

During their regular session Tuesday afternoon, Board Member Roque Tiu authored a resolution expressing their condolences to the family of the late governor.

“This is our way of expressing our deepest condolences to the family of the late governor,” said Tiu in a phone interview.

Tiu said Romualdez had left a legacy that benefited the people of Leyte while he was its governor.

For one, it was during his time that major infrastructure projects were undertaken and the putting up of the Leyte Estate Industrial Development, the only economic zone in Eastern Visayas that is located in Isabel town.

It was also during his incumbency as governor that the geothermal plants, the main source of power of Eastern Visayas located in Kananga town, were established. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)