ARMM assemblyman dies of heart attack

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines --- The newly-elected Assemblyman Tunggal Piang of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao died of cardiac arrest Monday, just a week after his assumption to office as member of the 24-seat “Little Congress” of ARMM.

The lawmaker represented the second district of Maguindanao to the RLA, which is comprised of three representatives from each of the eight congressional districts in the autonomous region.

Piang, who was in his late 40s, was reportedly dining with relatives at a restaurant in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat when he complained of difficulty of breathing and pain in the chest and throat.

He died while being rushed to a hospital, according to relatives.

A cousin of Piang, Assemblyman Khadafy Mangudadatu, who also hails from the second district of Maguindanao, confirmed the demise of Piang, who is to be buried in Buluan, the hometown of the Mangudadatu family.

Piang was the only non-aligned, independent candidate for ARMM assemblyman elected during the May  polls.

He was related to Maguindanao’s influential Piang, Paglas and Mangudadatu families of  vote-rich Datu Piang, Datu Paglas and Buluan towns in the province, respectively.

“We lost a good relative. We shall pray for him. He is now back to Allah, the creator of everything in this universe,” Maguindanao governor Esmael Mangudadatu said in a text message.