7 News Belize

Attorney/Politician Phillip Palacio Dead At 43
posted (March 7, 2017)
Well known attorney and former PUP politician Phillip Palacio died this morning at a hospital in the US. About one month ago, the 43 year old discovered that he had stage 4 cancer in his brain, which had already spread to his lungs. This footage taken by a friend showed him 11 days ago after he had gotten brain surgery at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. And while he looked healthy enough in those pictures, the cancer had already spread aggressively and then it overtook him early this morning. He had seizures at the residence where he was staying in California and was rushed to hospital. He passed at around 4:15 am this morning. He had first been hospitalized on February 17th.

The sudden and unexpected death, after a short battle with an advanced case of cancer has triggered an outpouring of sympathy from many Belizeans and his colleagues in the legal profession. This morning, we spoke with one of his peers Bryan Neal, about Palacio's contribution to the legal profession in Belize. Here's what he had to say about his colleague and friend:

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Do you care to comment on the passing of your fellow brethren of the legal fraternity Mr. Phillip Palacio?"

Bryan Neal, Fellow Attorney
"You hit me hard there Mr. Ortiz, because I went to school with and did my LLB with Mr. Palacio. Hearing that news this morning really has shattered my day. I want to say condolences to his children who he used to talk about so fondly and his wife Anne. Just hope that through prayers and through God we can get over something so painful as the loss of a colleague such as Phil. He was a really outstanding man."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Sir are you able to share with us how long he had been battling illness?"

Bryan Neal, Fellow Attorney
"He shared with me just recently Daniel, he used to complain of headaches but just recently I WhatsApp him when he was in the hospital and he was telling me that he had some health issues, some cancer that had spread and the words he used was 'this is all out war' in the text that he sent to me. So it's a shock that he has lost the war that he has waged against cancer."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Sir would you be able to share with us any anecdotes of his contribution to law in Belize and his profession?"

Bryan Neal, Fellow Attorney
"Well he worked at the attorney general's ministry, Phil worked at the legal aid center and he had recently gone into private practice with Mr. Derrick Courtenay. He was doing quite well in his profession having say having went to school with him and being involved with him. I used to rely on him for advice many times. He's a brilliant guy gone far too early."

Palacio was the father of four children.

He became a member of the bar in 2008, and one of our most recent encounters with him was at the Senate Hearings on Immigration where he was one of the attorneys representing Auditor General Dorothy Bradley. As a politician, he ran against Michael Finnegan for the Mesopotamia division in the 2012 General Elections.

It is a double tragedy for the Palacio family because Phillip's mother in law also died early this morning.

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