Mayor on medical leave for the 4th time in 2021

CEBU, Philippines —   Thirteen days after he return to work from a three-week medical leave last June, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella went on leave anew starting Wednesday, July 14, 2021, due a “persistent cough.”

City Administrator Floro Casas, Jr. said the mayor will be on leave until Friday, July 16.

Labella was admitted to a hospital Tuesday night but Casas said Wednesday he is currently “okay” and only needed enough time to rest.

He said Labella is being checked for possible pneumonia but no diagnosis was released as of yesterday.

“Gipa-admit nalang gyud siya para ma-obserbahan gyud siya og tarong… No need to worry. Amo lang gipasiguro kay senior na man sad si mayor,” Casas said.

This is the fourth medical leave of absence Labella has taken this year.

Back in January, Labella went on a three-day medical leave due to ear infection and subsequently proceeded to a work from home arrangement for over a month. He returned to City Hall in March.

On May 31, Labella took another three-day medical leave after he was admitted to the hospital for a weekend for “slight pneumonia.”

Last June 9, Labella filed a three-week medical leave to focus on his recovery as he revealed that apart from an ear infection, he also had sepsis or blood infection.

In a press conference, Labella recalled the time when he was rushed to the hospital for an ear infection in January “but that was not all.”

“While I was at the hospital, and after thorough tests, I was told that I had sepsis or blood infection. I almost died,” Labella said.

Just like in the previous times Labella was absent, Vice Mayor Michael Rama will serve as acting mayor while Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros will serve as acting vice mayor. — JMO (FREEMAN)