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BAGUIO CITY — Benguet lost two respected political leaders in two days just when the 2025 midterm elections are around the corner.
On Tuesday, March 18, the provincial government announced the passing of incumbent board member Florencio Bentrez at the age of 67. He was serving his third term as a provincial official.
Bentrez served the municipality of Tuba, the gateway to the Cordillera from Manila, as municipal mayor from 2007 to 2016. Before that, he was vice mayor for nine years, from 1998 to 2007.
He was the vice president of the mayor's league of Benguet from 2013 to 2016.
An engineer by profession, Bentrez started from humble beginnings, as he was a working student and once a security guard while pursuing his college education at Saint Louis University in Baguio City.
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Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap, Gov. Melchor Diclas and members of the provincial board have expressed their deepest condolences to the bereaved family of Bentrez, whom they described as a genuine public servant.
On Wednesday, March 19, the municipality of Mankayan also announced the passing of Vice Mayor Joey Culliao. He was 70.
"The honorable vice mayor was a pillar of strength, a guiding hand, and a true friend to many," reads a statement of Mankayan local government.
"His unwavering dedication, selfless service, and deep love for our community touched countless lives, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, integrity, and genuine care for the people he served," the statement added.
"The LGU of Mankayan likewise extends its deepest sympathies to his bereaved family, friends, and loved ones. We share in your sorrow and stand with you in prayer and remembrance, holding close the memory of a man who gave so much of himself to uplift others," the statement added.
