Assistant Secretary Casiano Monilla, deputy director for operations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), died on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the age of 59.
“Buong pagdadalamhating nakikiisa ang Office of Civil Defense sa pamilya at mga naiwan ng aming mahal na Asec. Casiano C. Monilla (We, at the Office of Civil Defense, wholeheartedly condole with the bereaved family and loved ones of our beloved Asec. Casiano C. Monilla),” the OCD said in a statement.
According to the OCD public information office, Monilla “died of non-COVID related” sickness. Other details of his death and interment are yet to be disclosed.
Monilla became the OCD’s deputy director for operations in May 2020 where he was tasked to manage the consequences of disasters and supervise the office’s central operations.
He often faced media briefings and interviews in the absence of Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, OCD Administrator, whenever the country faced calamities and disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and even coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related response.
Monilla was a retired Philippine Army major general and a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maharlika” Class of 1984.
“Ang kanyang kabutihan at pamumuno ay mananatili sa alaala at puso ng aming kawanihan (His kindness and leadership will remain in the mind and heart of our personnel),” the OCD said.