DAVAO CITY—Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Ralota Cagas succumbed to Covid-19 complications on early Thursday, seven days after he was rushed to the hospital.
He was 77 years old. Cagas left behind a political career that spanned 30 years which started when he became an assemblyman in 1985.
Incidentally, Cagas was among the first in the province to be inoculated with the first dose of Sinovac vaccine on May 16, “not because of his position but because he was a senior citizen.”
It could not be ascertained if he has an existing personal medical problem as the Cagas family has been known to be mum on many personal matters, including health.
His son, Marc, is also currently confined at a Digos City hospital on Covid-19 infection also. Douglas’s wife, Mercedes, on the other hand, has suffered multiple stroke, and it was also not known if she has been hospitalized.
The Cagas family, in a statement, has confirmed the governor’s death. “It is with you our deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Governor Douglas ‘Dodo’ Cagas this morning [June 10], owing to Covid-19 complications. He was the loving husband of Congresswoman Didi [Mercedes] and father to Vice Governor Marc Douglas.”
Cagas is survived by his wife, Rep. Mercedes Chan Cagas and son, former congressman and Vice Governor Mac Douglas IV.
Cagas started out as an assemblyman in 1985-1986, then as a congressman in 1998-2007 and governor in 2016.
A nephew, Provincial Board Member John Tracy Cagas, took his oath on Thursday as acting vice governor after Marc assumed the post of governor. He was also expected to act as official caretaker of the province since Marc has been in confinement.
Read full article on BusinessMirror
