Netizens offered prayers and comforting messages to Mayor Edgardo Labella who is recuperating in a hospital here after undergoing laser operation to take out a gall stone on Thursday.

Lawyer Rey Gealon, Labella’s spokesperson and City Attorney, said the operation was successfully conducted in a private hospital here.

“He is well now. He is just having his rest inside his room. Mogawas siya ugma pero dili lang usa mo-report (He will be out by tomorrow but will not report for work),” Gealon told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview.

He assured the city residents that the mayor is fit to lead the local government despite the minor affliction.

Labella’s supporters went on social media to offer support and prayers for his fast recovery.

On Wednesday night, Labella posted on his social media page an announcement about his operation on Thursday.

“Managing Cebu City’s response against Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) had been such a challenging task that I brushed aside the stomach and joint pains that I have been experiencing,” he said in his post.

Labella said that after undergoing a thorough medical checkup and “in the interest of transparency and good faith, I would like to inform everyone that I was diagnosed with gallbladder stones and will be due for surgery tomorrow morning (Sept. 3)”.

The mayor said his doctor, however, assured him that “it will be a fairly routine and safe operation”.

He said that he also wants “to assure everyone that the city government will continue to deliver vital services to the people and City Hall operations will go on as usual,” as he requested his constituents to “keep me in your prayers”.

“The past five months of battling the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has been a true test of character for all of us Cebuanos. I am glad that in the spirit of true solidarity, we now see concrete results in our continuous decreasing number of active cases in Cebu City,” he added.

His post generated 628 shares and 1,800 comments, mostly offers for prayers and words of comfort and assurance for his healing.

Facebook user Rudy Sabandal told the mayor: “Prayer is the best medicine so ampo lang gyud ta mayor para sa imong dali nga kaayohan (let’s pray for fast recovery). God bless mayor.” (PNA)