BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Victorias City’s Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca became the latest local chief executive in Negros Occidental to get sick of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Palanca had his specimen collected for testing at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental on Nov. 3 after having a sore throat – one of the common symptoms of the illness.
The result came out the next day. He had the disease.
The mayor immediately had himself hospitalized.
Palanca said he went to Bacolod City two weeks ago to renew his firearms license.
Along with his five staff, the mayor visited at least three places.
Palanca also revealed he had also gone to Iloilo prior to falling ill.
But the mayor believed he may have gotten the virus in any of the three places.
He also did not rule out that one of his staff in the van may have already been infected.
Yesterday morning, Palanca’s doctors cleared following four days of treatment. However, Palanca opted to self-isolate for a few more days at a quarantine facility in Victorias City.
Palanca is the fifth politician to be struck with COVID-19 in Negros Occidental.
In early August, Mayor Marvin Malacon of E.B. Magalona also got infected.
Other officials who contracted the illness were Mayor Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Samson Mirhan and Andrew Montelibano./PN
