Davao Sur governor Cagas dies of COVID-19

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas died of complications from COVID-19 in a hospital in Digos City yesterday. He was 77.

“It is with our deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Governor Douglas ‘Dodo’ Cagas this morning, owing to COVID complications. He has joined his Creator in heaven,” his niece Ria Fe Cagas-Fernandez posted on Facebook.

“Governor Dodo has left many footprints in Davao del Sur that will be remembered for generations and even more indelible footprints in our hearts,” Fernandez added.

Cagas was reportedly rushed to the Medical Center of Digos Cooperative Hospital on June 3 after he experienced difficulty in breathing.

The provincial government said Cagas received his first dose of China-made Sinovac on May 16.

Cagas served as assemblyman in the 1980s then as congressman from 1998 to 2007. He was governor of Davao del Sur from 2007 to 2013 and from 2016 to the present.

Cagas is survived by his wife Davao del Sur Rep. Mercedes Chan-Cagas and Marc Douglas IV, the incumbent vice governor, who will assume the governor’s post.

Meanwhile, in Sultan Kudarat, Vice Mayor Lino Montilla took his oath as mayor of Tacurong City yesterday following the death of his brother Mayor Angelo Montilla, also from complications of COVID-19.

The younger Montilla took his oath before Victoria Dolido, the city’s interior and local government officer.

Lino’s wife Lalaine, the first ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, assumed her post as vice mayor.

The older Montilla died while being treated in a hospital in General Santos City on June 6.