TACLOBAN CITY– Larry Portillo, one of this city’s veteran broadcasters, succumbed to a lingering illness on Sunday (July 9) while confined in a hospital.
Portillo, 37, was the station manager of Brigada before his death.
The death of Portillo, who ran during the 2019 elections for councilor of Tacloban, shocked his media colleagues and friends alike.
“Usa ka han pinakaboutan nga sikat nga media ha Region 8, nga akon nakilala, salit idol ko ikaw. Happy ako nga nakilala ko ikaw, ngan diri ko hinangangalimtan an imo ka humble,” Rene Castino, a radio broadcaster at MSFM 105.3 in Catbalogan City, said on his post.
“Today, the Eastern Visayas media mourns the demise of one of its best media personalities, Larry Portillo. He was my college instructor, a friend, and my tatay. My heartfelt sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the whole Portillo family,” said RMN Tacloban broadcaster Justine Traya.
Liza Baoy, the former regional information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Eastern Visayas, recalled her professional and personal friendship with Portillo.
“Those were the days when all you needed was a call and I’d be the guest you didn’t have but will rush up wherever and whenever…Rest easy, Larry. Thank you for the assistance you gave me and Regional Office 8 during those early days,” Baoy wrote online.
Portillo was also elected as councilor in Barangay 76 Fatima and was previously employed at Bombo Radyo and PRTV Tacloban.
His remains now lie at St. Peter Funeral Home with his internment scheduled on July 16. (RONALD O. REYES)
