FORMER Cagayan de Oro City Mayor lawyer Reuben Canoy passed away at the age of 93 on July 5, 2022.
This was confirmed through a Facebook post by his daughter, Rhona Canoy.
"It was with sadness that we are informing you of Dad's passining at 8:55 p.m. tonight July 5, 2022. Please pray for the eternal repose of his soul," Rhona posted on her social media.
Reuben Canoy had been confined to a hospital since his 93rd birthday last June 6, 2022.
Canoy last served in the government as a member of the Duterte Administration's Consultative Committee to review the 1987 Constitution that would supposedly pave the way for the shift to a federal form of government.
He was also a well-known radio personality in the long-running political commentary program "Perspective," which ran for 64 years on RMN.
For many of his avid radio listeners, he was known for his trademark sign-off: "Ang lungsod nga nasayod maoy makahatag og kusog sa demokrasya. Apan ang lungsod nga mapasagaron, maoy makapukan sa atong kagawasan."
Current City Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy and former city mayor Oscar Moreno extended their condolences to the Canoy family.
In his statement, Uy said that the country has lost a great stateman, a Mindanaoan leader and assemblyman of Misamis Oriental.
"His legacy for fighting for democracy will never be erased or eclipsed, and will endure for years to come. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to his family and to all who mourn the passing of a great man," Uy said.
"In his heydays as in his waning years, Atty. Reuben Canoy's persona and influence remain ubiquitous and felt among his many listeners. He may have gone to the Great Beyond, but his life and works continue to be a beacon of inspiration," he added.
Moreno, for his part, cited that Canoy had introduced many innovations in leading Cagayan de Oro and elevating the city to greater heights.
"His daily radio commentary has become a rich and steady source for information on a wide variety of issues, and the foundation of the pepple's collective wisdom. This program has reached many areas way beyond the boundaries of Cagayan de Oro," Moreno said.
"We thank him sincerely for the new brand of leadership he had introduced, and for being one of our inspiring role models," he added.