Ailing Cebu City mayor hospitalized again

Mayor Edgardo Labella. (CDN FILE PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

CEBU CITY––The son of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella is asking for prayers for his father after he was again admitted Saturday to a hospital due to pneumonia.

“Papa is in the hospital, and my family pleads for your compassion and prayers at this difficult time,” said Jaypee Labella in a post Monday on Facebook.

Jaypee did not provide other details about his father’s condition, saying their family would hold a press conference Tuesday.

The mayor has been battling different kinds of ailments since January.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama confirmed that the mayor was at the intensive care unit of a private hospital.

“We have to pray for him because he is now at the ICU,” said Rama, who belongs to the same political party as Labella.

Labella first took a three-day medical leave in January 2021 after he got an ear infection.

On May 31, he requested to take a three-day leave after he was hospitalized for “slight pneumonia.”

Last June 9, he took a three-week medical leave to recover fully from sepsis or blood infection.

On July 14, he went on a three-day leave due to a “persistent cough.”

He extended his leave until Aug. 18. The mayor’s sixth leave happened from Sept. 2 to 7. Labella was back to work on Sept. 8 but had to stay at home.

Labella took another leave from Sept. 20 to Oct. 7 for health reasons.

No specific medical condition was disclosed.

On Oct. 8, Labella filed an indefinite leave of absence to continue his recovery.

lzb