Ex-Malabon vice mayor dies in motorbike mishap

MANILA, Philippines - Former Malabon City vice mayor Arnold Vicencio died Sunday morning in a motorcycle accident along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). He was 40 years old.

Acting Mayor Antolin Oreta III made the announcement during the flag-raising ceremony at the city hall yesterday.

Oreta said that in honor of Vicencio, he has ordered all flags in city offices, including the one at the city hall, to fly at half-mast. The STAR gathered that city officials, led by Oreta, are set to pay their last respects to Vicencio tomorrow.

Vicencio’s remains lie at the Heritage Floresco along Dagat-Dagatan Avenue, Malabon City.

Initial reports state that Vicencio, a son of former Malabon mayor Amado Vicencio, was driving his motorcycle along SLEX with veterinarian Ronald Estuaria as his passenger. He reportedly lost control of the motorcycle near the Bicutan exit at around 6 a.m. Sunday.

SLEX traffic personnel said he was thrown several meters from the motorycycle. Vicencio was reportedly on his way to Batangas on a matter related to raising fighting cocks.

Bicutan Highway Patrol Group personnel took Vicencio and Estuaria to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa. The two men were transferred to the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, where Vicencio died at around 11 a.m. Estuaria is reportedly still under observation.

Vicencio served as vice mayor of Malabon for nine years. In the 2010 elections, Vicencio ran for Congress but lost to Rep. Jaye Lacson-Noel.

Prior to serving as vice mayor, he was city councilor during his father’s term. Last year, he expressed his intention to run for Malabon’s top post in 2013.