FORMER Marikina City mayor Bayani Fernando died on Friday at the age of 77, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

Reports said that Fernando fell off his house’s roof. He was then taken to the hospital, where he eventually passed away. 

In a statement, the MMDA said it was ”deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden demise” of Fernando, who headed the agency from June 5, 2002, until November 25, 2009.

”A man of few words, Fernando is known to be a workaholic and a disciplinarian among MMDA employees,” it said.

”Under his helm, he put the MMDA in the spotlight. He was the person behind rapid bus lanes and the ‘Metro Gwapo’ campaign transforming the region into a livable metropolis.”

Fernando served as Marikina mayor from 1992 to 2001 and as representative of the city’s first district from 2016 to 2022.

He ran for vice president in 2010 but lost to Jejomar Binay.