Former Silay mayor Carlo Gamban found dead in apparent gun accident

BACOLOD, Philippines – Former Silay City mayor Carlo Gamban was found dead in his home on Monday afternoon, December 2, sending shockwaves across Negros Occidental.

Authorities confirmed the death of the 84-year-old Gamban on Punay Street, Barangay Mambulac, Silay on Monday afternoon, December 2.

Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego told Rappler that Gamban was pronounced dead shortly after 3 pm. Initial reports indicate the former mayor died from an “accidental firearm discharge,” Gallego said.

“I cannot give exact details yet about mayor Gamban’s death, only that I was told the cause of death was an accidental firing of a gun,” Gallego said.

Gallego said he instructed Colonel Mark Darroca, Silay’s police director, to conduct a thorough investigation into Gamban’s death.

Darroca, in a separate interview, confirmed that Gamban had died from a gunshot. 

“We are verifying [and would make] the final report,” he said, adding that investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding Gamban’s death, including the possibility that no other party was involved.

Rappler reached out to the family of the late mayor for a comment but they declined.

Gamban, a prominent sugar planter in Negros Occidental, served as mayor of Silay City in May 2004. 

But three months before he concluded his first office term, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled to boot him out, a decision that favored his political opponent, Jose “Oti” Montelibano, another sugar planter.

In the case, the Comelec ruled that Montelibano garnered a total of 19,392 votes, with a difference of 138 votes over Gamban’s 19,254 votes. 

Gamban subsequently stepped down and said that he accepted his fate and the Comelec ruling.

Gallego, in a statement posted on his official Facebook page, expressed his sorrow over the passing of Gamban.

“Mayor Gamban was more than a public servant; he was a beacon of wisdom, humility, and dedication to our community. His leadership left an indelible mark on Silay City, and his selfless service continues to inspire us,” Gallego’s statement read. 

Gallego said he valued the former mayor as a mentor and a supportive companion in working for progress for Silay.   

“To his family, friends, and loved ones, please accept my heartfelt condolences. May you find solace in the knowledge that his legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched,” Gallego said. – Rappler.com