Pangasinan town mayor dies

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Mayor Herminio Romero of this town died Sunday night in an apparent heart attack after delivering a speech at a Christmas party in Barangay Lipit Tomeeng in San Fabian municipality. 

Romero, 72, suddenly slumped in a chair, prompting concerned citizens to rush him to the Decena Hospital in Dagupan City, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. 

Romero, who was on his last term as mayor, filed his certificate of candidacy as board member for the fourth district in next year’s elections. 

Fernando Cabrera Jr., administrative officer IV at the municipal hall and a close aide of the mayor, told The STAR that Romero was recently hospitalized for three days.

Vice Mayor Bernardo Abalos will assume Romero’s post while the number one municipal councilor, Teresa Abalos, will take over as vice mayor.