Vice guv's daughters say Sanchez is well

CEBU, Philippines - After being silent for quite sometime, the daughters of Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez faced the media yesterday to clarify issues surrounding their father’s health.

Grecilza “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero and Gerlaida “Gerlie” Sanchez-Spiller, both engineers by profession, called a press conference yesterday at the vice-governor’s office together with their cousin, Busay Barangay Captain Eleodoro Sanchez.

“My apologies for not being able to come up with family statement right away because we were more focused on getting the best medical treatment we have available,” Zaballero said in her opening statement.

She explained their family is experiencing tough times these days because their mother and brother are also undergoing medical treatment.

Zaballero said her father had water in the lungs for the past weeks and has been suffering from pneumonia, which reportedly took away his voice. The vice governor’s physician reportedly assured them that Sanchez’ ailments are treatable.

Zaballero said they had to bring Sanchez to Manila to determine what really caused his voice to disappear. The vice governor is now in Cebu, but still has not fully recovered. Zaballero said it’s a good sign a sound can now be heard.

Sanchez is now capable of signing bills and vouchers, but his family insists that he take a complete bed rest.

“Para namo it is the long overdue rest that he needs and I hope we be given a little privacy after so we can focus on his fast recovery. Well meaning prayers are most welcome,” Zaballero said.

She said doctors are continuing to look into the cause of the problem regarding Sanchez’ voice and assured the public will be informed of developments.

Zaballero also clarified that her father can eat and stand, contrary to what has been reported in the newspapers.

He, however, gets assistance from an apparatus because of a nodule in his esophagus that has affected his voice box. Zaballero said weight loss is normal to a person that is experiencing an illness.

She also denied that they have applied for a travel abroad because the vice governor’s health has gotten serious. She said they only wanted to bring their father to the United States for a vacation.

“We are sad. We’ve seen our father and not that really grabe as what we are reading,” Spiller said.  (FREEMAN)