ILOILO City – Former Sangguniang Panlungsod member Josua Alim died on Saturday morning, Jan. 15, in a hospital here.
The 57-year-old lawyer who had also been a broadcast journalist suffered from cardiac arrest.
According to Alim’s political ally, former councilor Plaridel Nava, he learned of his friend’s passing from the former councilor’s brother Judgie Caesar.
Alim, who had a kidney disease, planned to have a kidney transplant after the May 2022 elections. He was running for councilor again after a three-year break from politics.
Alim was originally scheduled to fly to Ireland on Oct. 15, 2021 to be with his wife and children and to seek medical treatment there for his kidney disease but he changed his mind and decided to run for councilor once more.
“Siling ko, ‘Sir why would you? Nga kinahanglan mo ibaylo ang imo kabuhi para lang sa politika kag serbisyo publiko”’ Ugaling nagapalanaytay gid sa iya kaugatan ang panghimanwa,” said Nava.
Iloilo City lost a good man, lamented Nava.
“So unfortunate. He was also a good father, husband, a good friend, excellent public official, maayo gid sa panghimanwa. Waay man gamo nga tawo, ma-amigohon. Masubo lang nga ang mga tawo nga amo sina amo pa una kuha. Ang mga demonyo sa kalibutan nga obra pangawat sa gobyerno, pigos sa tawo, buhi pa,” added Nava.
Alim served Iloilo City as councilor for a total of 18 years.
Tributes poured in.
“We were never together in most of my political battles, but I always respected (him),” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” according to Cong. Julienne Baronda.
Broadcast journalist and candidate for mayor Jun Capulot, a political ally of Alim, said, “Mabug-at sa aton balatyagon…Upod ninyo, grupo ninyo gulpi lang madula. Nagpalangluya kita sang nabasa kag nabal-an naton samtang naga-house to house.”
“We woke up to the sad news…We were told that he died peacefully in his sleep,” according to Councilor Candice Tupas.
Alim was the godfather of a daughter of Tupas. Her parents-in-law were also wedding godparents of Alim.
“Thank you for the kindness and for being good to me and Lex. What is certain also is that he loved Iloilo very much that he chose to stay even if it was hard. His wife and kids are far from him as they are residing in Ireland,” according to Tupas./PN