CAUAYAN Mayor Jerry Tabujara succumbed to a liver ailment at Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City around 4 a.m. Wednesday.
He was 68.
His son Cauayan Vice Mayor John Rey Tabujara told Capitol reporters yesterday that his father’s condition deteriorated in December last year, and that the mayor was not in a good state after his bile operation and heart bypass surgery.
He said they are set to bring home the mayor’s remains tomorrow, October 7.
The elder Tabujara was reelected for the mayoral post in the May 9 elections even if he was not able to campaign.
His absence in the town became an issue after several residents questioned why he was not seen in public since he filed his certificate of candidacy in October last year until he was proclaimed as the winning mayoralty candidate in May.
The elder Tabujara, who was vice mayor before being elected as mayor, had diabetes with complications in his liver.
The younger Tabujara said the last time his father came home to Negros Occidental was on May 8, and he again left for Manila on May 14 for treatment.
The vice mayor said that before his father died, he told him to continue his programs, especially the scholarships for the youth.
By rule of succession, he is expected to take over the post vacated by his father.
For his part, Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson extended his deepest condolences to the Tabujara family.
“I will always remember Mayor Jerry to be passionate about his work as a public official of Cauayan and a loyal partymate who never left me inspite of pressure to do so,” Lacson said, adding that the mayor is now “in better hands with our Creator.”
The Provincial Board also passed a resolution Wednesday condoling with the Tabujara family.
Tabujara is the second mayor in Negros Occidental who died this year. The first was reelected San Enrique Mayor Mario Magno, who succumbed to multiple organ failure on May 27.