Datu Ernesto Salaysay (Photo courtesy of Barangay Goma Facebook Page)
DIGOS CITY – The ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of this city as the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) succumbed to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) complications and passed away at about 7 a.m. on Friday.
Datu Ernesto Salaysay was admitted to the Gonzales Hospital and Clinic here two weeks ago due to severe asthma and found out to be positive for Covid-19.
Salaysay passed away just a day after the death of Governor Douglas Ralota Cagas on Thursday.
He is a resident of Barangay Goma and was immediately buried in compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) protocols in disposing of Covid-19 fatalities.
Sheila Mae Landas Salaysay, one of his daughters, said they were not allowed to witness the burial of his father as she posted the passing of the funeral car bringing the corpse of his patriarch to his grave in Barangay Goma.
“It hurts us too much. All we can do is to scream to the top of our lungs and shed tears as the hearse carrying his body passed along the road near our house. We will miss him throughout our life since he is a good father to us,” she said in the vernacular.
Salaysay had been in public service since 1994 as one of the officials of Barangay Goma. (PNA)
