NegOr governor passes away

NEGROS Oriental has once again been left without a governor after Gov. Carlo Jorge “Guido” Reyes died of a terminal illness at a hospital in Metro Manila on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, just three months short of his ascension to the position.

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo confirmed that Reyes had been battling his illness in a hospital in Manila in the past few days.

Reyes, then vice governor, took over the position of governor Roel Degamo, who was assassinated on March 4 at his residential compound in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

Remollo said he was informed by Guihulngan City Mayor Filomeno Reyes, brother of the late governor, that the body of the official was scheduled to be brought back to Negros Oriental where his wake will be held.

He will be given the honors and rites that he deserves, but no other details were given by the family about the governor’s death, he added.

By rule of succession, former Board Member and incumbent Vice Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria Jr., son of Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria (Negros Oriental, 2nd District), will become the new governor.

Reyes’ son, Jake Reyes, will take Sagarbarria’s post as vice governor.

This is not the first time Negros Oriental experienced ascensions in the gubernatorial position due to deaths.

In 2010, then governor Emilio Macias II died a few weeks after he won the gubernatorial elections. And a few months later, Macias’ successor, Agustin Perdices, also died in January 2011.

Their deaths paved the way for Degamo, who had just been elected as a board member in the 2010 elections, to assume the governorship.