Garcia is welcome to visit Sanchez

CEBU, Philippines - The family of Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. has opened the door for Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to visit the ailing official.

Sanchez’s nephew, Busay Barangay Captain Yody Sanchez, said Garcia is welcome to visit the vice governor in the hospital where he is currently confined to rest.

Garcia expressed interest to visit Sanchez but was hesitant because of the statement from the family that the vice governor needed a “voice rest.”

“I would have to get a clearer statement whether visitors would be allowed,” Garcia said.

Garcia said that for now, she has respect for Sanchez’s privacy and is giving him all the time to rest if he needs to rest.

“We need to get clearer statement from the family. The family should also be given all due privacy,” Garcia said.

Yody thanked Garcia for her concern to the vice governor and expressed the family’s willingness to welcome her if she visits.

Yody earlier said that they limit the visitors to avoid the vice governor to be obliged to talk.

Provincial Board Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza, Jr. said that some PB members know the health condition of Sanchez but they cannot divulge it except the immediate family.  

Yody said they are still waiting for the diagnostic result.

PB Member Agnes Magpale also said what she learned from Sanchez himself was that he had only throat infection making her considered what she heard from others as hearsay.

“Tuo lang ko niya. Bahala na if he told a lie. If I am asked I always say what he told me,” Magpale told The FREEMAN.

After quietly leaving Cebu to undergo treatment in a Manila hospital, Sanchez returned the other day via a chartered plane. He was immediately transported by a waiting ambulance to Perpetual Succour Hospital causing speculations on the real health condition of the official.

But the family members insisted that the vice governor is fine, he just needs to rest his voice.

The family also dispel speculations that the vice governor is taking his food through tube.

Yody said the vice governor was eating through his mouth and can talk to people as well as stand up.

He however admitted that the vice governor had a “growth” in his throat, which affected his voice and was caused by his smoking.

He also would “not confirm nor deny” whether the growth was cancerous or not.   On January 23, 2011, Sanchez was admitted at the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City for several days supposedly for a throat infection.

He was discharged last Jan. 28 and stayed in his house to rest.

He was unable to attend PB sessions since until he reportedly went to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Metro Manila by second week of March for treatment. (FREEMAN)