The Negros Oriental provincial government is in the thick of preparations to provide the highest possible honors for the late Governor Carlo Jorge Joan “Guido” Reyes during his wake and funeral rites.
Newly-concurred provincial administrator lawyer Fran Tolcidas told the Philippine News Agency yesterday that the remains of the 62-year-old Reyes will arrive on Saturday morning, June 3.
His remains will stay in the capitol building for a few hours so that his colleagues, government officials and other private sector representatives can pay their last respects.
Tolcidas said it is the wish of the family that the remains of Reyes be brought immediately to his hometown, Guihulngan City, where a public viewing will be held.
“We are expecting visitors on Saturday, including Reyes’ colleagues, government officials such as mayors, and other private sector representatives, to pay their last respects to the former governor while at the Capitol, and that is what is keeping Governor Chaco Sagarbarria busy right now,” Tolcidas said.
The provincial administrator will be given arrival honors at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport, ceremonial guards at the wake, and other military honors during the burial.
Reyes died of a terminal illness on Wednesday, May 31, at a hospital in Metro Manila, less than three months after he assumed as governor following the death of his predecessor, Governor Roel Degamo, who was assassinated last March 4 in Pamplona town.
Tolcidas said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan concurred with his appointment as the new provincial administrator, replacing lawyer Karen Lisette Molas, who served in the same capacity under the Reyes administration.
Sagarbarria also has a provincial legal officer in mind, but Tolcidas said he does not want to preempt the governor’s announcement.
A special session was held yesterday on the turnover of official documents and matters regarding official signatories, Tolcidas said.
Except for the new governor visiting the different office heads, no other announcements or changes have been made yet out of deference to the late Reyes, he added.
Sagarbarria is holding office in the legislative building for now and will only occupy the governor’s office once Reyes has been laid to rest or at least transferred to Guihulngan, Tolcidas said. (PNA)