Former Negros Occidental Board Member Francis Gerard “Tanting” Yulo Tuvilla, who was seen standing on the roof of a jeepney cheering for Vice President Leni Robredo during her visit to Negros Occidental Friday, suffered a massive heart attack and died Tuesday morning, November 9.
Tuvilla, 62, who had several heart attacks in the past, was at his sister’s house Tuesday morning when his heart gave in, his cousin Paul Yulo said.
He was rushed to the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Tuvilla served as board member of Negros Occidental from 2004 to 2007. His political career was cut short after he suffered from a heart attack.
He was also a three-term councilor of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, from 1995 to 2004.
Like his mother, former Negros Occidental board member Socorro Tuvilla, he was known for his compassion for the poor. His father was Commodore Mariano Yulo.
He was set to be cremated Tuesday afternoon and his urn would be brought home, his cousin said.
Tuvilla was seen by many of his friends standing on top of the jeepney parked along the Bacolod Silay Airport Access Road as part of a stationary caravan to welcome Robredo to Negros.
In his Facebook post, he wrote “from the roof of this jeepney with Jerry the owner, it was very clear that the people had found hope in VP Leni Robredo.”*