Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and former mayors Jose Montalvo and Luzviminda Valdez paid tribute yesterday to the late mayor Alfredo Montelibano Jr. in a necrological service facilitated by the city government.

Leonardia remembered Montelibano as a man who could inspire and move the masses to enthusiasm and one who knew exactly what he wanted and easily mobilized people into action.

“He had his way with the masses and he was a hands-on executive,” Leonardia said in his eulogy.

He added that although they had their political differences, he looked up to the late mayor, who stood as one of the principal sponsors in his wedding to his wife, Elsa, for his dynamic and focused leadership.

Leonardia said that a common friend told him just the other day that when he raised the issue of Bacolod politics to Montelibano, particularly his ties with Leonardia, the former mayor responded “La-in ang politika, la-in ang personal (politics is separate from personal relationships)”.

Valdez , who delivered an emotional eulogy for Montelibano, remembered him for the various infrastructure projects he initiated for Bacolod City .

She also cited the late mayor as a political icon who honed and supported a new generation of leaders not only in Bacolod but the entire province of Negros Occidental .

Montalvo, on the other hand, cited the accomplishments of Montelibano as governor of the province for 18 years and as city mayor for seven years, and the latter's integrity and honesty as a public official which, he said, is a trademark of being a Montelibano.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said it was the Montelibano family's wishes to hold the vigil and necrological service at the BAYS Center instead of City Hall to make it more accessible to the public.

Also delivering eulogies for the late mayor during the service were Leoncio Villa, acting president of the Bacolod City Government Employees Union and former president of Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association, Ardis Jaculina, chief of Permits and Licensing Division, and Engr. Teresita Guadalupe, Office of the City Building Official officer-in-charge.

Roberto Montelibano delivered a response on behalf of their family and thanked the city government for paying tribute to his late brother.

Also present during the service were the members of the City Council led by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson who read the SP resolution of condolences to the Montelibano family.

The remains of the late mayor were brought back to the University of St. La Salle Chapel at 4 p.m. yesterday where it will stay for two more days.

On Saturday, January 12, at 5:30 a.m. , Montelibano's remains will be brought to Hacienda Binitin in Mucia to be buried at the family's mausoleum after a 9 a.m. mass. *NAB

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