CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. has been absent for nine regular Provincial Board sessions already, raising questions if he has a more serious illness than what he claimed only as bronchopneumonia, an infection of the lungs.
Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, presiding officer pro-tempore, has been presiding the PB sessions since January 24.
Sanchez had his medical check-up in a hospital in Cebu City after Sinulog last January when he lost his voice. He still reported to work using a special microphone to amplify the sound of his voice when talking to somebody.
He was then advised by his attending physician for a “voice rest”.
On the last week of February, Sanchez requested for authority to spend a month abroad.
One of his office staff told The FREEMAN that although the request was approved by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia it has not been used as Sanchez is still in the country.
She said the approved request is ready for use anytime Sanchez wants to go abroad for his vacation, but Capitol consultant and spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda said that Garcia approved the vacation leave of Sanchez for a trip to the United States only from March 1 to April 30, 2011.
Sanchez has yet to file any leave of absences as he keeps reporting to his office except that he does not preside the sessions every Monday.
Reports have it Sanchez is reportedly confined in a hospital in Manila but his close friend Crisologo Saavedra denied this, although he confirmed that the vice governor is indeed in Manila.
Saavedra said that Sanchez is in good health and becoming stronger.
Earlier Sanchez was quoted as saying “I am still in good health contrary to rumors that I have a serious illness.”
His habitual smoking was also seen to contribute to his adverse health condition. — (FREEMAN)