The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which the country continues to battle, has also claimed the life of Cebu City Councilor and former congressman Antonio “Tony” Cuenco.
The news about his passing was confirmed by his son, former Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco on Saturday, June 27.
“Today, a great man has passed on. What is very shocking is the manner and the suddenness of his passing,” the younger Cuenco said in a statement.
“It happened so fast and has left us very shocked to realize that the good man that we have had the opportunity to have as our father (with my siblings Ronald, Antonio Jr., and Cynthia) and a good husband to my mother, Nancy, is gone,” he added.
It was on June 18 when the elder Cuenco reportedly took a swab test as he started experiencing symptoms such as mild fever and cough. Two days later, the test result came out and it showed that he contracted the virus. It was not clear, however, where he got the virus.
Prior to winning a seat in the Cebu City Council during the 2019 elections, the elder Cuenco had served in the lower house several times, joining the 6th Congress at the age of 29 in 1965. He also served in the 8th, 9th, and 10th Congresses after he became a member of the Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986.
In 2010, he served as secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Assembly until 2013.
“There will be time enough to remember the many things that he dedicated his life to, for our country and for our beloved city. but for now, I wish to request that we be given our space to lay him to rest and grieve in his untimely passing,” the younger Cuenco said.
His passing came a few days after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to oversee the COVID-19 response in Cebu City which is under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until June 30.
Twelve of its villages were put under total lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. These villages are Basak San Nicolas, Duljo, Ermita, Guadalupe, Kamputhaw, Lahug, Mabolo, Sambag Dos, Sambag Uno, Tejero, Tinago, and Tisa.
As of June 27, the city has more than 4,800 total coronavirus cases, more than 2,200 of which are active cases. It also recorded 70 new recoveries and 14 new deaths.
The country’s coronavirus infections, meanwhile, increased to more than 34,800 after the Department of Health logged 738 new cases. Of these cases, 560 are tagged as fresh cases, while the other 178 are late cases.