Neophyte Rep. Nestor Fongwan of Benguet died Wednesday night at the age of 68, his son, Benguet Provincial Board Member Nestor Fongwan Jr. disclosed.
Fongwan, vice chairman of the Committees on Agrarian Reform and on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous People of the House of Representatives, was the second member of the House in the 18th Congress to die in office.
On Nov. 4, LPG Marketers’ Association party-list Rep. Rodolfo Albano Jr. succumbed to heart failure.
Cause of death of Fongwan has not been announced by the family.
Fongwan’s remains were taken to Guadayan, Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet yesterday.
His House colleagues extended their sympathies to his family.
Fongwan served nine years as governor of Benguet from 2007 to 2016 before going on a hiatus from politics after his term ended.
He returned to politics by joining the congressional race last May, defeating unknown candidate Thorsson Keith.
As congressman, Fongwan authored 21 bills, mostly proposals of local application. (Ben Rosario)