Mayor RRD dies, 73

Wake open to public, burial on Monday

                Former City Mayor Rogelio Debulgado succumbed to sepsis (infection), March 6, Tuesday, after undergoing a supposedly successful triple-heart by-pass at the Cebu Doctors' University Hospital on February 29.

                SP Member Rommel Debulgado, son, confirmed through a phone interview that the former mayor was pronounced clinically dead at eight in the morning. He reported that the heart surgery was considered very successful and that the elder Debulgado already had a "functional" heart. The morning after his surgery, the former mayor was already conversing with wife, Victoria Debulgado. "Nagstoryahanay na man to silang Mama," the son said.

                But in the afternoon, the vital signs of Roger, as he is fondly called in the political arena, suddenly dropped including his blood pressure and he had a renal failure. He had then been undergoing dialysis until March 5.

So long. Government emploees pay their respects to former City Mayor Rogelio Debulgado on March 7, the day his remains arrived from Cebu Doctors's University Hospital where he died of infection after a triple heartby-pass.          

              SP Member Debulgado added that nothing prepared them for the death of his father, also considered the patriarch of the city for 15 years. "Wala gyud mi ga expect nga mao ni matabo. Confident man gyud mi nga ma-overcome niya ni nga obstacle (the heart surgery)."

                Only wife Vicky, and nephew Jemilou Ando was with Former Mayor Debulgado during his final moments. Mayor Debulgado's body had been unable to respond to medications and treatments early on March 6 because sepsis had spread throughout his body.

                Debulgado residence of New Era Street, Barangay IV is now open for the wake of the former mayor. The bereaved family allows public viewing. The interment will be on March 12, Monday at the San Carlos Memorial Park, Barangay Rizal.

                Mayor RRD was first appointed as city mayor in June 1986. He was elected to the office in 1992 and finished three terms, each with three years, in 2001. He is best remembered as a son of agricultural Negros because he was an agronomist who earned his BS Agriculture degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The widow. Mayor Roger is survived by wife Victoria seen here while she receives the condolences of former constituents and sympathizers at the wake in their Barangay IV residence.           

                He is survived by wife, Vicky, sons, SP Member Rommel, Roel, and grandchildren.