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Wife replaces husband in council
By Jeremy M. Gawongna

LAGAWE, Ifugao – The wife of a councillor who died in a road accident took her oath July 3 to replace her husband as municipal legislator.

In a resolution by the Sangguniang Bayan of Hungduan town, Evelyn Pocopio, wife of the late councilor Peter B. Pocopio was sworn in as new councilor at the governor’s office.

Sometime on April 11, the late councilor Pocopio was riding the ill-fated bus that fell into a deep ravine in Ariwong, Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya killing twelve including the driver.

The bus was carrying 35 passengers who had started out from Maddela, Quirino where many Hungduan natives resettled.

Pocopio’s sister, Esther Humiding, who was present during the oath-taking revealed that it was totally difficult for the newly-appointed councilor to recover emotionally from the loss of her husband yet out of love for him and the people he served, she agreed to assume his position.

“The pain of losing a husband is still visible in her face but she is determined to pursue the programs of her late husband,” Humiding said.

Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr.said Ms Pocopio’s appointment was in support of her late husband’s programs and that of Hungduan Mayor Pablo Cuyahon.

"We hope that Councilor Evelyn will continue to support the programs of the local government unit of Hungduan and that her family will eventually recover from the pain of losing her husband,” Baguilat said.

Hungduan officials said this development manifests that the town continues to move on after that tragedy.

The town officials solicited funds for the injured and the orphaned. Donations poured in and were used for their medication and as financial assistance.

The provincial also gave financial assistance to the families of the victims of that tragedy.