Ex-Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi dies at 82

Former Cavite Governor Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi has died, his son Emmanuel said in a Facebook post on Wednesday night.

He was 82.

Ayong was a longtime elected official in the province of Cavite, having served as vice mayor and mayor of his hometown Imus, congressman representing the second district of the province, and a three-term governor from 2001 to 2010.

He also served as chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under the Aquino administration.

The mayor of Imus City said it was his father who molded him to become a leader.

"Higit sa pagiging isang serbisyo-publiko, ay ang iyong pagiging isang mapagmahal at mapagkalingang ama sa amin. Maraming salamat sa iyong pagmamahal at mga aral na patuloy naming babaunin," Emmanuel said.

"Ikaw ang naghubog sa akin bilang isang lider na hindi tumatalikod sa tungkulin. Mula sa aking pagkabata, magpasa hanggang ngayon ay patuloy kong sinusundan ang mga yapak mo," he added.

"Ipinamalas mo hindi lamang sa buong bansa, kundi ay sa pandaigdigang larangan ang puso ng isang Imusen?o, at kagitingan ng tunay na Kabiten?o. Alam ko, at ramdam kong nariyan ka at patuloy na gagabay sa amin," Emmanuel said.

In a statement, Malacañang expressed its condolences to the family, friends, loved ones, and supporters of Ayong.

“We express our sincerest and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones, as well as the supporters, of Erineo 'Ayong' S. Maliksi,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said.

“[W]e pray that his soul may rest in peace and that the perpetual light may shine upon him,” he added. — NB, GMA News