Cebu governor suffers hip fracture

CEBU CITY—Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia will have to use a walker for the next six weeks after suffering a hip fracture from a fall in her house last August 15.

Garcia returned to work on Tuesday with the aid of a walker.

Capitol legal consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda and Integrated Provincial Health Office Chief Dr. Cristina Giango on Monday presented a medical certificate, showing the injury that the governor sustained.

“She is okay, she will be back to work tomorrow (Tuesday) but she is advised to use a walker for six weeks,” Sepulveda said a press conference last Monday.

Presenting the medical certificate was in line with the Cebu provincial government’s policy on transparency of the governor’s health condition, Sepulveda said.

Sepulveda said that the governor’s attending physician advised her to use a walker for six weeks, and a cane for two more weeks.

The governor also needs to undergo physical therapy, and take pain medications.

Despite the injury, the governor will have no problem performing her tasks, Giango said.

“It is not serious because according to the diagnosis the fracture is ‘already closed, complete, not displaced’ meaning it is not serious as the fracture didn’t penetrate the skin,” Giango said.

Garcia also figured in a similar accident in January 2016, when she injured her left hip.

It was the second time this month that the governor had to present a medical certificate to make public her health condition.

Last August 10, Garcia presented a medical certificate showing she tested negative for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Garcia underwent COVID-19 test last August 6, the same day that she announced that her brother, Barili town Mayor Marlon Garcia, was infected with the virus.

Before it was announced that the Barili mayor was COVID-19 positive, the Garcia siblings were together during the launch of tourism activities in Barili last August 2.(Calvin D. Cordova)