Asturias vice mayor dies of cancer at 57

Former Asturias mayor and incumbent vice mayor Alan Adlawan died yesterday morning after a long bout with lung cancer. He was 57.

Adlawan was admitted at the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital in Cebu City just before he died.

Incumbent Asturias Mayor Jose Antonio “Anto” Pintor told SunStar Cebu that their town lost a great man who brought prosperity to their town in his stint as chief executive.

“Tungod sa paninguha niya, ang lungsod sa Asturias nilambo gyud mao nang dako kaayong loss nga nawa siya sa among lu- gar (Our town progressed during his town. He’s a big loss to us),” Pintor said.

Adlawan served as Pintor’s running mate when the latter ran for mayor during the 2016 national and local elections.

Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu,3rd district) said she was shocked upon receiving word that Adlawan died. She said yesterday that she visited Adlawan in the hospital last Thursday.

Garcia said Adlawan was one of those mayors who remained loyal when she became governor and then congresswoman.

“He continued to believe in me, to stand up for me, even if it meant he had to suffer with me. So, I have lost a very dear, true and loyal friend,” Garcia said.

A wake will be held for a day at the Asturias Municipal Hall tomorrow before they are transferred to the late vice mayor’s residence.

Adlawan served for three terms as mayor of Asturias from 2007 to 2016.

But before he ran for mayor, Adlawan served as a municipal councilor of Balamban town before resigning to run for mayor in Asturias. /

SUNSTAR FILE ADLAWAN. Alan Adlawan was admitted to a hospital in Cebu City before he died. A colleague of his in Asturias remembered him as having contributed significantly to the improvement of the municipality. /