Samar Gov. Milagrosa Tan passes away

Former congresswoman and incumbent Samar Governor Milagrosa Tan passed away Saturday evening, her daughter, Samar 2nd District Representative Sharee Ann Tan confirmed.

She was 61 years old.

According to Sharee Ann, Milagrosa died at 7:50 p.m., Saturday, after suffering from cardiac arrest at St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Milagrosa's remains will be flown to Samar as soon as weather conditions improve, Sharee Ann said.

The details of her wake will be announced in the next few days, she added.

Milagrosa served as representative of the second district of Samar from 2010 to 2019, before Sharee Ann succeeded her.

The Sandiganbayan has earlier found Milagrosa guilty of eight counts of graft over the alleged anomalous purchase of P16.1 million worth of emergency supplies in 2001 during her term as Samar governor.

She, however, was cleared from charges of graft and malversation of public funds over the alleged purchase of overpriced medical and dental supplies worth P69 million in 2007. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News