Maguindanao’s Toto Paglas passes away
Paglas, 48, was considered as one of the strongest pillars of the Muslim community in the south, especially as he put up in 1997 the family-owned Paglas Corp. that engaged in banana export, trucking and agricultural consultancy services.
Paglas, president and chief executive officer of Paglas Corp. until his death, ran for ARMM governor in 2001 and 2005, but lost.
Paglas, who served as mayor of Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao for three consecutive terms in the 1900s, was known for his slogan “Sa Datu Paglas, bawal ang tamad.” He employed his constituents in his banana farm.
Datu Paglas town has posted an investment record of more than $100 million in the past 10 years through Paglas’ efforts.
Paglas, an Eisenhower fellow, had received several awards, including the TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men).
Paglas’ eldest son Ahmed told The STAR that his father had suffered from an ear infection for the past six days and it was only last Tuesday when he decided to go to the hospital only to be brought immediately to the intensive care unit.
“My father kept things to himself. He was not the type who would say about what he felt. The infection caught up with him in his brain,” Ahmed said.
Paglas’ remains were immediately brought to Buluan town in Maguindanao for the Muslim tradition of burying the dead within 24 hours.
Ahmed said his father decided not to run in Monday’s ARMM elections as he wanted to concentrate on the family business.
“Father said he would rather dedicate his time to our business than to politics,” he said.
Being the eldest, Ahmed vowed to continue all the programs that his father had started. – Edith Regalado, John Unson
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