Batangas mayor who tested positive for COVID-19 dies

SAN PEDRO CITY — The mayor of Lian, Batangas died days after testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), officials said Sunday.

Isagani Bolompo, 68, died Saturday evening at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, according to a report from the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (CALABARZON) police.

Based on the report, Bolompo was first rushed to the Western Medical Center in Balayan town on Oct. 17 where the official tested positive for COVID-19.

Batangas health chief Rosvilinda Ozaeta, in a phone interview Sunday, confirmed this but said her office had yet to get a hold of hospital records that would indicate the cause of death.

“Since last week, contact tracing by the local government (of Lian) had been going on,” Ozaeta said.

Bolompo, a medical doctor, served as Batangas health officer before he became mayor of Lian.

In April, the official was criticized for promoting a concoction of coconut oil, garlic, and calamansi supposedly to prevent COVID-19.

Health experts have yet to find any cure to the disease up to this day.

According to the Department of Health, Batangas recorded 8,988 COVID-19 cases, of which 1,379 were active as of Oct. 24.

It said 50,227 cases, of which 10,525 were active, were recorded in the entire region.

JE