Iloilo mourns Oca Garin

Flags in Iloilo province are flown at half-staff as the province mourns the death of Guimbal town Mayor Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr. last Sunday, September 26, 2021.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. ordered flags in the edifices, facilities, and hospitals owned by the Iloilo provincial government to be flown half-staff for seven days.

On Monday, several municipalities in the province also hoisted their flags in half-staff, particularly in Miagao and Oton, to mourn Garin.

Garin’s passing saddened his supporters and fellow politicians as they recognized his legacy as the political kingpin in the 1^st district of Iloilo.

“Mayor Oca will be long remembered for the pioneering projects he initiated that shaped the first district into what it is today,” Gov. Defensor Jr. said in his statement.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas also extended his condolences saying, “Mayor-Congressman Oca Garin had been a leader in the province for a long time, brought a lot of improvements and helped his constituents.”

The House of Representatives also sympathized with the passing of Oca Garin who served as representative of the 1^st district of Iloilo during the 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th Congresses from 1987 to 1998 and the 12^th Congress from 2001 to 2004.

He was also the incumbent mayor of the town of Guimbal when he died and once served as administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Garin passed away Sunday in a private hospital in Iloilo City after testing positive for COVID-19.

A mass was held at their house in Guimbal Sunday evening and was followed by a caravan. His supporters lighted candles along the streets to mourn the passing of their leader. (ERS)