Tom puts off US checkup to spend Christmas here

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña postponed his third medical checkup this year following his successful cancer surgery so he can spend Christmas here.

Last July and September, Osmeña went to the US for his medical checkups, this week he is due for his third. The mayor underwent an operation last April after he was diagnosed with cancer in the urinary bladder September last year.

The quarterly medical examination of the mayor’s health condition is part of his post-cancer regimen although he is already declared cancer-free.

Osmeña said that he requested his doctor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, to move his schedule.

The mayor explained to his doctor that he would like to celebrate Christmas in the city because this will be his last celebration as mayor.

“This is my last Christmas as mayor in the city, so, I want to be here and my doctor said that there’s no problem,” Osmeña said.

The mayor also wants to lead the Sinulog festivities next month after he failed to join and celebrate the festival last January.

Osmeña was in the US. during the last Sinulog for a chemotherapy session.

He said that his doctor permitted him to stay in Cebu until the third week next month so that he can lead the Sinulog celebration.

“Ako na lang gi-schedule human sa Sinulog, akong gihangyo ang doktor nga I have to be here during sa Sinulog kay I was not here the last time,” Osmeña said.

Another reason why the mayor decided to move his next medical checkup to next year is the high price of airfare this month due to the holidays.

Osmeña is expected to file his leave of absence early next year but has not mentioned how long this leave will be.

Last September, the mayor took a 10-day leave of absence for the said purpose but had to extend it due to the controversy involving his son, Miguel.

Miguel was accused of harassing Samantha Benitez, a friend of his girlfriend, by shooting her camera aside and sending her threatening text messages.

The mayor’s son reportedly got angry after Benitez left his girlfriend Ana Gabriela Beatriz Villegas who passed out during a drinking binge in a resto bar.

Osmeña, however, also cut short his indefinite leave upon knowing that the Benitez family was no longer interested in pursuing a case against Miguel. — Elly Bolonos/BRP

(THE FREEMAN)