BACOLOD CITY — The City of Bago in Negros Occidental is mourning the loss of former boxing Olympian Leopoldo Cantancio, who died in a vehicular accident Friday night.
Cantancio, 54, was driving a motorcycle which overshot the road, hitting a concrete electric post in Purok Narra, Barangay Malingin at about 9:45 p.m., a police report said.
In a Facebook post, the city government extended its condolences and prayers to the Cantancio family, and uploaded the late boxing champion’s photo with a list of his accomplishments as a Filipino athlete.
Residents of Bago also expressed sadness over Cantancio’s passing in response to the city’s social media post.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo said Cantancio made the city proud of his accomplishments as a boxer.
In a radio interview, the mayor said he really feels the loss of the “icon of Bago” because Cantancio was also a personal friend.
Cantancio, a retired police officer, who resided in Barangay Atipuluan – where he became president of Purok Malipayon – had filed a certificate of candidacy for village councilman for the May 14 barangay elections.
Born on July 6, 1963, Cantancio was among Bago’s boxing greats, along with the Velasco brothers, Mansueto and Roel, who competed in the Olympics.
He represented the Philippines in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Cantancio won a silver in the 1986 Asian Games and a bronze in the 1990 Asian Games. (PNA)
