Florencio Flores, Jr.

Florencio Flores Jr. (1949 - 17 February 2022) was a physician and politician. He was the mayor of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon and seeking reelection when he died in 2022.

Career

Flores was a medical doctor before entering politics. He first served as a councilor of Malaybalay before being elected vice mayor of the then municipality in 1992. After winning reelections in the vice mayor race in 1995 and 1998, he became the mayor of Malaybalay in 2001. He was Malaybalay's top executive for three consecutive terms, leaving the post in 2010.

After serving Malaybalay for more than two decades, Flores joined the Congress of the Philippines after being elected representative of the 2nd district of the province of Bukidnon in 2010. He won reelections in 2013 and 2016. After his stint in the Congress, Flores successfully ran for mayor of Malaybalay once again in 2019. His son John Flores replaced him in the House of Representatives.

Death

On 27 January 2022, Flores tested positive for COVID-19. In a Facebook post, the mayor said his only symptom was cough. After testing negative for the virus on 2 February, Flores went back to work on 3 February and went on to officiate weddings for two days. Flores again tested positive for the virus on 7 February. Unlike the first time, Flores developed complications while being treated in the Polymedic Plaza in Cagayan de Oro City. He succumbed to the disease on 17 February. He was 72.