Governor Agustin Perdices has revealed that he has stage 3 stomach cancer. Perdices made the revelation in an interview over a radio program, Dumaguete Tonight, today. {{more}}
Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, who heard a portion of the radio interview, said Gov. Perdices sounded his normal self during the interview even as he revealed the state of his health. “He even joked that his prostate is okay,” Sagarbarria said.
The revelation of Perdices has ended weeks of speculation about his health, after he was noticed to be losing weight and getting weaker. Perdices left for Manila on October 22 for what his friends said was a “cataract operation.” He had also gone to Manila from Sept. 30 to Oct. 13, where he was admitted at the St. Luke’s Medical Center for bleeding ulcers, anemia and high blood sugar. He
celebrated his 76th birthday in Dumaguete last Oct. 16.
Last week, the Governor was reportedly undergoing chemotherapy in Manila and is scheduled to undergo the last treatment next week.
Perdices, who won as Vice Governor in the May 10 elections, was thrust to the governorship following the death of Governor Emilio Macias II. Likewise, Board Member Roel Degamo stepped up to become the Vice Governor to fill the vacancy left by Perdices. Degamo has assumed as Acting Governor of Negros Oriental in Perdices’ absence.
Mayor Sagarbarria said he and City Legal Officer Neil Ray Lagahit will visit Perdices in Manila on Monday. “We will be in Manila for another purpose but we will take the chance to visit the Governor,” Sagarbarria said.
Lagahit, for his part, said he will seek the Governor’s permission to come out with an official statement on the Governor’s health when they meet on Monday.