The League of Provinces of the Philippines paid tribute and offered its heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla, who passed away last Friday, May 5. “The governors have collectively and individually expressed their condolences to the Padilla family through a resolution approved by the LPP, and described his passing away as having left a huge dent as an irreplaceable forebearer in their lives,’’ the LPP said in a statement. In honoring the late governor, the LPP conveyed its gratitude to Padilla for what it described as dedicated and committed service to the Filipino people. “Gov. Padilla had been a paragon of public service for his dedicated and exemplary service; and remained tireless and resolute in serving his constituents without fear or favor,” a LPP resolution stated. Padilla was on his third and last term as governor, having been first elected as governor in 2016 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2022. He also served as representative of the Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya for several terms and served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 16th Congress. Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Padilla served as mayor of the then undivided municipality of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya. Padilla was one of the eight elected ‘assemblymen’ who represented Region II (Cagayan Valley) in the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978. He represented Nueva Vizcaya in the restored Congress in 1987 and continued to served as such for several terms and authored the landmark law Free High School Act of 1988 (RA 6655) that ensures free high school education for every Filipino, and RA 6728, providing various forms of government assistance to students and teachers in private education, among others.