A VILLAGE councilman has assumed the post of Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin, who died on Wednesday, December 12, as Balibago barangay chairman.
Rodelio "Tony" Mamac, a first councilman, said he is now acting as officer-in-charge of Barangay Balibago while waiting for his official installation by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.
Mamac said he is set to take his oath as the barangay chief with Pamintuan, who is arriving from an official visit in Japan.
Relatives, friends, and supporters mourn the death of Lazatin, one of the political icons of Pampanga.
In a joint statement, Lazatin's two sons, Pampanga First District Representative Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II and Angeles City Councilor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin, said "today, we lost a great leader and a loving father."
Carmelo Feliciano Lazatin, 84, served as Pampanga First District Representative from 1987 to 1998, Angeles City mayor from 1998 to 2007, and Pampanga First District representative again from 2007 to 2013.
He succumbed to cardio pulmonary failure secondary to hepatorenal and hepatopulmonary syndrome and endocarditis at 7:40 am on December 12.
Tarzan was known as the father of resettlement centers in the first district of Pampanga. He was instrumental to the creation of the resettlement sites in Mawaque and Madapdap in Mabalacat City, EPZA in this city, and San Isidro and Santa Lucia in Magalang town.
He also authored Republic Act 10164 or the Act Converting The Municipality of Mabalacat in the Province of Pampanga into a Component City to be Known as Mabalacat City.