Malacañang to Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno: Get well soon

FILE PHOTO: Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the seeming tension between President Rodrigo Duterte and Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Malacañang has expressed hope that the local chief executive will soon recover as he was recently found positive for the new coronavirus.

“We wish Mayor Isko Moreno good health. We hope that he gets well soon,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing Monday.

Roque, who himself had COVID-19, surmised that Moreno’s infection will only be moderate since he is already vaccinated against the disease and that the Manila City mayor’s hospitalization could just be a precaution.

“’Yang karanasan ni Yorme ngayon, sa tingin ko precaution ‘yung kanyang pagho-hospital pero sa tingin ko siguro moderate ang magigng kaso niya, hindi na siya magiging kritikal dahil bakunado na siya,” Roque said.

(I think Moreno’s hospitalization is only a precaution and he will only have moderate symptoms since he is already vaccinated.)

The Manila Public Information Office on Sunday confirmed that Moreno has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes serious respiratory illness COVID-19. He was consequently sent to Sta. Ana Hospital for treatment.

Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Grace Padilla said Moreno is experiencing mild symptoms of  COVID-19 such as “mild colds, coughs and body malaise.” Moreno has no fever.

Manila City Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna also tested positive for the new coronavirus on August 8.

Last week, Duterte chided a city government for being “disorganized” in the distribution of government cash aid prompting him to take away the local authorities’ power to distribute the financial assistance.

While he did not directly name the city and the mayor, Duterte claimed that the local chief executive has “bikini” photos circulating online, leading to speculations that he was referring to Moreno.

Despite this, Moreno thanked the President for the cash aid, adding that distribution in Manila City would proceed as planned.

KGA