CEBU, Philippines — A week after his medical leave due to an ear infection, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella appeared publicly through a virtual press conference yesterday to dispel rumors that he was in bad shape, health-wise.
Labella confirmed that he is no longer on leave and is overseeing the city from home per his doctor’s advice.
The mayor also debunked rumors that he was in a state of coma.
“The worst is over but I'm still undergoing some treatment because I never expected that it would be that serious,” said Labella, adding that he is taking antibiotics for the continued treatment of his ear infection.
“There should not be a single day that it should be stopped because the antibiotics must have to really control, and I'm very happy that it has been controlled already. But it has to continue,” he said.
Labella said his doctors have advised that the medication may run for not less than 10 days but not more than 14 days.
The mayor likewise stressed the “important advice of his doctors” never to expose himself to crowded places because, according to them, that was really the cause of the infection.
This, he said, was the reason why he was advised to just stay home for a while.
Labella has been observing the work-from-home scheme since Monday. Nevertheless, he assured that he is in constant communication with the Emergency Operations Center in the fight against COVID-19, as well as with his department heads, especially on important matters.
He also expressed his gratitude to Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who served as acting mayor while he was on leave, as well as to the City Council and his fellow workers in the city government for ensuring that services were not disrupted while he was away. — JMD (FREEMAN)