DILG Negros chief found dead in Valenzuela City condo

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Negros Island Region (NIR) or Region 18, was found dead in a condominium unit in  Valenzuela City on Monday, October 17.

Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, Philippine National Police spokesperson, confirmed that the body of Margie Biligan, 43, was already bloated when she was discovered in her room at the Isabelle De Valenzuela Condominium in Barangay Marulas in Valenzuela City at around 1 am Monday.

The police report said that Biligan, who was in Metro Manila to attend a seminar, did not sustain any injuries and did not lose any of her personal belongings.

Police said they were still awaiting the official result of the autopsy, though they said that Biligan had some health issues. She reportedly died of cardiac arrest.

According to an iinitial investigation, two of Biligan’s colleagues who were also attending a seminar in Manila could not track her down after she failed to attend the activity on Sunday, October 16.

Her colleagues contacted her relatives in Ilocos Sur, where Biligan is from, but they were told that the DILG director was in her office in Bacolod City.

When they could not reach Biligan on her mobile phone, they sought help from authorities. Police, Biligan’s colleagues, and condominium officials found her lifeless in the condominium unit. Journal reported that Biligan was found lying on her bed.

‘Everybody loves her’

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said Anthony Nuyda, DILG director in Western Visayas, will serve as Region 18 director in a concurrent capacity.

Sueno described Bilgan as very industrious, enthusiastic, and loved her work. “Everybody loves her,” he said.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr, for his part, said that Biligan was “very efficient, very dedicated, and very knowledgeable of the affairs of DILG.”

Marañon expressed sadness over her demise, as such a “good person” had died so “young.”

Biligan was the first director of DILG-18 after it was activated on December 12, 2015, months after then President Benigno Aquino III created the NIR in May that year.

Prior to her appointment in NIR, Biligan was the assistant regional director of DILG-Western Visayas.

Biligan was also supposed to attend the Regional Peace and Order Council-18 meeting in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Monday. The council passed a resolution commending her for her services to NIR.

RPOC-18 was chaired by Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo while Biligan headed the secretariat. – Rappler.com