Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Enrique Sagal Pinongan, 77, succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City 1:10 a.m. yesterday.

He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2014 and had gone on leave in the third week of May this year, his son, Provincial Assessor Enrique Gary Pinongan, said.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. called the provincial administrator an exemplary public servant who had risen from the ranks.

He started his career as a cedula clerk in 1960 in his home city, Escalante, and later became a bookkeeper. He then moved up to assistant municipal treasurer, municipal treasurer, and city treasurer, until he reached the peak of his career as Provincial Treasurer of Negros Occidental from 1992 to 2001. He became Provincial Administrator in July 2004.

Pinongan's exemplary career that spanned 55 years speaks well of his selfless commitment to serve, Marañon said.

“His unparalleled integrity is worth emulating by civil servants. Mr. Pinongan was, no doubt, the epitome of what a genuine government worker should be,” he added.

“We extend our condolences and prayers to his family and loved ones in their moment of grief,” he added.

The death of Pinongan came as a shock to the employees of the Provincial Administrator's Office who saw him as a fatherly figure and expected him to return to work this week.

Leonardo Eusebio, OIC provincial administrator, said the Provincial Administrator's Office staff visited Pinongan in the first week of June and he seemed to be okay.

Pinongan was dedicated to his job, in fact, he was the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave, Eusebio said.

Pinongan's remains will lie in state at the Sacred Heart Seminary chapel and will be laid to rest at Rose Lawns in Barangay Bata, Bacolod, Saturday, after a 2 p.m. mass at the Queen of Peace Church, his son Gary said.

Pinongan is survived by his wife Felisa, and children, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Gary, Daisy Pinongan Garrucho, and Rex.*CPG

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