Stop spreading rumors, pray for Mayor Labella — Cebu City administrator

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella. CDN Digital Photo | Morexette Marie Erram

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Administrator Floro Casas, Jr. is appealing to the public to stop spreading rumors about Mayor Edgardo Labella’s health condition.

Casas said that rumors of the mayor’s untimely death were insensitive and unfair to the mayor who continued to recuperate from pneumonia and had been advised to rest longer so he could return to City Hall with enough strength.

The city administrator has been monitoring the situation of the mayor since last night, and he has received multiple calls last night asking him if the mayor has passed.

“Dakong buhi pa man si Mayor intawn. Okay ra man kaayo si Mayor. It’s sad lang nga naghimo-himo silag sturya like that. Ang iyang pneumonia dili pud dali mawala pero his condition is improving na,” said Casas.

(The mayor is alive. The mayor is okay. It’s sad that they would make up stories like that. His pneumonia will not easily be gone but his condition is improving.)

As of now, Labella’s condition was described to be gradually improving although doctors have advised to keep him in the hospital for a few days more.

Casas said they were not sure how long the mayor would be asked to rest after the discharge, which would be expected in a few more days, but he assured the public there was nothing to worry about because Vice Mayor Michael Rama would continue to act as the chief executive of the city.

As for those who continue to spread rumors about the mayor’s health, Casas appeals to them to stop because this puts unnecessary pressure on Mayor Labella and his family.

“Instead of maghimo-himo silag estorya, let’s pray for Mayor Edgar kay naa siya sa hospital. Let’s just pray for him. Anyway, si mayor has served the city well so he deserves our respect while naa siya sa hospital,” said Casas.

(Instead of them making up these stories, let’s pray for Mayor Edgar, who is in the hospital. Let’s just pray for him. Anyway, the mayor has served the city well so he deserves our respect while he is in the hospital.)

Vice Mayor Rama said in a separate interview that he tried to visit Mayor Labella in the hospital on Thursday night, but he was informed that no visitors were allowed.

Rama wishes the family to put forth a formal statement to put to rest any doubts on the health condition of the mayor.

“I wish the family to speak out so that everybody will not make any assumptions. We know pretty well that the mayor is in the hospital, that he is trying to come back to City Hall. I told Jaypee (Labella’s son), I want to see my mayor,” said the vice mayor.

The vice mayor wishes to see the mayor as well because he is expected to handle the affairs of the city for longer, so he wants to know if Labella has special instructions.

For now, Rama hopes that the family will release a formal statement because the rumors spreading are an indication that Cebuanos are very concerned of the health of the mayor.

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