By Erwin M. Mascariñas
Correspondent .
Butuan City — Surigao del Sur Governor Vicente Pimentel Jr. passed away in the morning at the age of 71 on Christmas day, Dec. 25 in Manila.
Pimentel’s family claimed he died during his sleep, a day after he checked out of a hospital in Manila. He insisted to be brought home to spend Christmas with his family.
Pimentel started his political career as barangay chairman in Tandag then served as mayor in the mining town of Carrascal for two terms in 1992 to 2001.
From 2001 to 2010, he became the governor of Surigao del Sur’s for three terms.
He secured another term as the town’s mayor of Carrascal from 2010 to 2016, then got elected as the province’s governor in 2016.
According to reports, Pimentel earlier filed his candidacy for reelection in next year’s polls, but he later withdrew his bid due to health reasons. His younger brother, Tandag City Mayor Alexander Pimentel, will run for governor instead.
Vice Governor Manuel Alameda, Sr will assume the role as the province governor until someone else is elected in May 2019.
Pimentel’s family has yet to announce details of his wake and interment.
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