Ex-NegOcc solon Cojuangco passes away

BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental 4th District’s former congressman Carlos Roberto Santiago “Charlie” Cojuangco passed away. He was 58.

At the time of his death, he was serving as congressman of the 1st District of Tarlac where he transferred a few years back.

Cojuangco’s wife, Czarina Maria Jocson-Cojuangco, announced his passing via social media yesterday.

Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Cojuangco’s partymate in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), extended his condolences to the Cojuangco family.

“Although we were not always in touch, the few times we were together he always talked about progress and Negros Occidental,” Lacson said.

Cojuangco served as Negros Occidental 4th District congressman from 1998 to 2007.

He also previously served as mayor of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental from 1992 to 1998.

As a sign of mourning, Lacson ordered that the Philippine flag at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon be flown at half-mast.

Cojuangco was the youngest son of NPC figurehead, former ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco of Tarlac, and Maria Soledad “Gretchen” Cuyugan Oppen, an heiress of the Montilla family of Bacolod City and one of the biggest landowners in Negros Occidental.

In October of 2021, Cojuangco had aneurysm while participating in a drive circuit race. He subsequently underwent surgery.

Cojuangco was seeking a third term as Tarlac 1st District congressman. His son, Jaime, is substituting him.

He was previously married to beauty queen, actress and television host Rosario “Rio” Diaz who died in October 2004 due to stage 4 colon cancer./PN 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here