City mourns demise of former mayorSP expresses condolence to bereaved family

THE 20th City Council headed by Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez on Monday adopted a resolution expressing sympathy and deepest condolences to the bereaved family of Atty. Reuben R. Canoy for his untimely demise.

Canoy died last July 5, 2022 at the age of 93.

He was a former Assemblyman and former city mayor of Cagayan de Oro. He was the 5th Mayor of the city (1971-1976) and the only opposition member (1978-1984) representing Northern Mindanao in the defunct Batasang Pambansa.

He was one of the most colorful political leaders of Mindanao during the Marcos Administration and became the undersecretary of the Department of Information and Deputy Information Minister, and was a radio commentator in his radio program “Perspective”, aired over Radio Mindanao Network’s stations in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Canoy last served the government in 2018, when he became a member of the Consultative Committee (Concom) of the Duterte Administration, which drafted proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Apart from public service, Canoy also did the screenplay of The Passionate Strangers (1966) and The Mad Doctor of the Blood Island (1969). In the Philippine entertainment industry, he worked as the producer and screenplay writer of the films Babae sa Likod ng Salamin (1976) and Sa Dulo ng Kris (1977).

In 2013, he won the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Genre Film Scriptwriting Competition with his script “The Unbelievers”.

The Council cited that even if the city could no longer harness his services and talents, his memories as a determined, resolute, persistent, genuine, sincere, honest and dedicated public servant will be deeply enshrined in the hearts of the grateful residents of Cagayan de Oro City.

With the flag at half-mast at City Hall, Mayor Klarex Uy, Vice Mayor Rodriguez and members of the City Council on Monday paid tribute to one of Mindanao’s greatest leaders.