MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who contracted Covid-19 twice last year, extended his leave until the end of February upon his doctors’ recommendation, Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said Tuesday.
“SILG [Secretary of the Interior and Local Government] extended his leave until the end of the month. The extension was upon doctors’ advice for him to fully recuperate, regain his strength, and prioritize his health above all else,” Malaya told reporters in a text message.
Currently, DILG Undersecretary for Peace and Order Bernardo Florece is the officer-in-charge of the interior department.
Año took a one-month leave in January because his doctors advised him to rest after he was infected with the severe respiratory disease twice last year.
To date, Philippines recorded a total of 527,272 Covid-19 infections with 487,574 recoveries and 10,807 fatalities.