Former Olongapo City mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr has died.

This was confirmed by his brother and Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon during the Senate session on Tuesday, February 9. Senator Gordon, however, did not disclose the cause of his brother’s death.

It was Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri who first brought up Bong Gordon’s passing during the session as he offered his condolences to the Gordon family. 

“We would like to just give our deepest and sincerest condolences to the family of Senator Richard Gordon for the passing of his dear brother who was a very, very good friend of ours, many of us. He was classmate of ours in Congress, this is Congressman Bong Gordon,” Zubiri said.

Gordon then replied, “He was a long-serving mayor of Olongapo, a stalwart volunteer during the Pinatubo eruption.”

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who was presiding over the session, also expressed his condolences.

Bong Gordon first served as congressman of the first district of Zambales from 1995 to 2004 before becoming mayor of Olongapo City from 2004 to 2013. – Rappler.com