Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada. EDWIN BACASMAS/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada may not be home for Christmas as he has been confined in the hospital since Wednesday due to pneumonia.
This was according to Estrada鈥檚 son, Sen. JV Ejercito, who said his 79-year-old father was 鈥渘ot really good, had a hard time breathing and looked pale鈥� when brought to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a chance he might not be home for Christmas,鈥� Ejercito told the Inquirer, noting that a pneumonia patient especially of Estrada鈥檚 age requires monitoring. 鈥淚t can take a while.鈥�
Doctors so far had given Estrada antibiotics and his condition was 鈥渋mproving slowly,鈥� the senator added.
Not the first time
City Hall spokesperson Diego Cagahastian said it was听 not the first time that Estrada had been hospitalized for days.
Sometime in 2003, he recalled, Estrada underwent a knee surgery in Hong Kong. The former President was then under hospital arrest and on trial for plunder at the Sandiganbayan antigraft court, which granted him permission to have the operation outside the country.
Cagahastian maintained that Estrada had made no special requests while confined at the hospital, saying he continued to run the affairs of the local government from there by sending instructions on the phone.
听
Still in charge
听
鈥淗e is still the mayor. It鈥檚 still him who is in charge,鈥� Cagahastian said.
Malaca帽ang on Friday issued a statement wishing for Estrada鈥檚 speedy and full recovery.
鈥淕et well soon, Mayor Erap,鈥� said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who also heaped praise on the political veteran who has consistently praised President Duterte, particularly on his antidrug campaign.
鈥淎s mayor of the Philippines鈥� capital and premier city, he regained Manila鈥檚 lost glory. The National Competitiveness Council named it the most competitive city in the Philippines,鈥� Andanar said.鈥�KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY AND LEILA B. SALAVERRIA