PULUPANDAN Mayor Miguel Peña has confirmed that former town mayor and vice mayor Antonio Esteban "Tony" Suatengco has passed away.

Suatengco was 72.

Peña said Suatengco died around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, February 27, at the Bacolod Doctor's Hospital due to acute myocardial infarction/cardiac arrest.

Peña said Suatengco filed his candidacy for mayor for the upcoming May elections. He was unopposed.

With his demise, Suatengco's son, Lorenzo, will substitute him.

Suatengco was mayor of Pulupandan from 1988 to 1992. He was again elected as mayor from 1995 to 2004.

He also served as vice mayor of the town from 2007 to 2016.