Mayor back to work a day after landing in hospital

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña returned to work yesterday after being hospitalized last Thursday due to stomach cramps.

Osmeña told The Freeman he was “80 percent okay” and even shot an audio-visual presentation for the city’s 80th charter anniversary next week.

He, however, did not hold his regular press conference.

His wife, Councilor Margarita Osmeña, assured yesterday morning: "He will be there in the City Hall because he has a wedding to perform. You will see him alive."

Aside from the AVP shoot in the morning, the mayor went to his office in the afternoon to sign documents.

His wife, Councilor Margarita "Margot" Osmeña, confirmed to The FREEMAN last Thursday that the mayor was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital due to stomach cramps after eating leftover food he brought from a recent trip.

"He ate leftover food from abroad. He brought me baon. He ate leftover food last night (Wednesday night)… maybe he did not keep it well. Remember, it came from abroad, bag-o lang siya naabot," she said.

Last February 8, the mayor went to Kitakyushu City, Japan, together with other city government officials and department head to attend a seminar about the Japanese E-recycling technology. It was only last Monday evening that the mayor arrived from the trip.

Councilor Sisinio Andales, Osmeña’s ally in Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), said it is good that the mayor is back to work.

“The pain is no longer serious thus he returns to work due to his commitment to serve the public but he advised to see his doctor tonight before he goes to sleep,” he told The FREEMAN. (FREEMAN)