By Rommel F. Lopez
Portraits of former Iloilo Mayor Mansueto Malabor (left) and former Iloilo governor Simplicio Griño (right)
Iloilo City – The former mayor of this city and the former governor of the province died a day apart of each other.
Former mayor Mansueto Malabor died on Sunday (August 4) while former Iloilo governor Simplicio Griño died Monday (August 5).
Malabor died after suffering multiple organ failure. He was 88.
He was mayor of Iloilo City from 1992 until 2001.
Malabor’s closeness to his constituents earned him the title “Mayor of the Masses”.
A public viewing is being held at the late mayor’s residence at South Fundidor, Molo, Iloilo City until August 11. The funeral Mass will be held on August 12, 2019, 1 PM, at St. Anne Parish (Molo Church) Molo, Iloilo City. His remains will be cremated right after.
Griño was a Provincial board member designate from May 5, 1985 to December 21, 1986 and vice-governor designate from December 22, 1986 to March 31, 1987. He appointed acting provincial governor in 1987 by President Cory Aquino. He was elected governor in 1988 and served until 1992. He was 85.
Their deaths were overshadowed by the tragedy of the Iloilo-Guimaras straight boat mishap that claimed the lives of 31 victims.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said Griño’s remains will be brought to the old provincial Capitol on Friday afternoon for public viewing. A mass and necrological service for the late governor will be held.
Griño’s remains now lie at St. Joseph the Worker Mortuary in this city’s Jaro district. His internment is scheduled at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Leganes Municipal Cemetery.