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Friday, March 29, 2024

Samar gov, clan matriarch Milagrosa Tan passes away

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Tacloban City— Samar Governor Milagrosa Tan, the matriarch of the most of influential political clan in the province, died Saturday night after suffering from cardiac arrest.

In a statement, Samar (2nd District) Rep. Sharee Ann Tan said her 61-year-old mother died around 7:50 p.m. on Saturday at St. Luke’s Medical Center Inc. in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“Her remains will be flown to Samar once weather conditions improve. The wake and interment schedule shall be announced in the coming days,” the lawmaker said.

The governor was with her four children before she passed away.

Milagrosa returned as governor of Samar province after winning in the 2019 midterm elections. She was a governor from 2001 to 2010 and a district representative from 2010 to 2019.

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She entered politics in 1986 as candidate for provincial board member to replace her brother-in-law Ruben Tan, who was a substitute for her late husband, Ricardo.

Two of his children are current officials in Samar province. Sharee Ann was a governor for nine years and is the incumbent solon, while Michael, the newest member of the family to join politics, is the vice governor.

Another son, Jimboy, was a vice governor from 2010 to 2019 while her sister Angel, was a candidate for mayor in Calbayog City.

Last July, the Sandiganbayan had ordered Tan to vacate her post and spend the rest of her life in prison, after affirming its ruling convicting her of graft and sentencing her to up to 115 years in prison.

This was over the anomalous purchase of emergency supplies for victims of Typhoon “Kidang” worth P16.1 million when she was governor in 2001.

Magistrates of the anti-graft court’s fourth division denied for lack of merit the motions filed by Tan and her co-accused to reverse its March 2019 ruling.

Tan and four former provincial government officials were convicted of eight counts of graft.

The fourth division also ordered Tan’s perpetual disqualification from holding public office. It recommended bail of P240,000 for Tan’s temporary liberty while appealing her conviction.

“After considering the motions for reconsideration, the court maintains that while it was made to appear that there were competitive public biddings held by the provincial government… which led to the eventual award to Raechels Shoppers Plaza, none was in fact legitimately carried out,” the court said in a June 26 ruling that was released later to the media.

“Accused were also unable to reconcile the disparity between the attendance sheets and the minutes for each bidding process. In addition, their testimonies contradicted those of their witnesses,” the ruling read.

In filing the cases in 2006, the Office of the Ombudsman said the provincial government procured cement, medicine, t-shirts and electric fans for typhoon victims without public bidding.

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