Misamis mayor tests positive for COVID-19

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A municipal mayor in Misamis Oriental has tested positive for COVID.

Mayor Redentor Jardin of Jasaan town became the 45th COVID case in his area, a village official said on Saturday.

Alan Leuterio, chief of Barangay Upper Poblacion, said Jardin tested positive for the virus on Thursday, a day after the mayor issued an order prohibiting the holding of all social activities in the municipality.

“Jardin is isolated in a room in the family-owned compound,” Leuterio said.

All members of the Jardin household will undergo swab tests. Contact tracing is ongoing.

On the day he tested positive for the virus, Jardin confirmed the death of seven COVID patients as well as 44 new infections in his town.

Meanwhile, after recovering from COVID, a priest based in Cotabato City died of heart attack yesterday.

Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr. of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate died at 3:25 p.m. at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC), the OMI announced on social media.

Mercado was admitted at the CRMC on May 8 after experiencing symptoms of COVID.

He remained in the hospital until he tested negative for the virus on Saturday.

He was transferred to the intensive care unit to complete his recovery, but his heart stopped beating at around 3:20 p.m. yesterday.

Efforts to revive him were futile.

Last Friday, two priests of the Diocesan Clergy of Cotabato, Loreto Sanoy and Rex Bacero, died due to complications from COVID.

Sanoy was assistant parish priest at the Rosary Heights Parish in Cotabato City.

Bacero was president of the Notre Dame of Salaman College in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.