Dr. Israel Bactol, 34. (Contributed photo)
CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- Residents and medical practitioners in this province are mourning the passing of a cardiologist from Peñaranda town who succumbed to the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) last Saturday at the Philippine Heart Center.
"Hindi lang tayo ang nagluluksa, ang buong Pilipinas (It is not only us who are mourning but the whole Philippines," said Governor Aurelio Umali on the death of Dr. Israel Bactol, 34, who was fondly called Dr. B by friends.
The news on Bactol's death came on the heels of the report of the Department of Health (DOH) that two Novo Ecijanos tested positive of Covid-19.
For the municipal government of Peñaranda, Bactol is an icon in government's fight against Covid-19.
"Mga kapwa taga Peñaranda (To my fellowmen in Peñaranda), let this be a lesson in life. Ang Covid-19 ay hindi biro (The Covid-19 is not a joke)," the Municipal Health Office (MHO) said in a statement.
"Kaya po ayaw naming lumalabas kayo ng kalsada nang mabawasan na ang mga taong maaaring mahawahan nito. Huwag po nating sayangin ang buhay ng isa sa mga doktor, nurse o sinumang nasa ospital dahil ginagamot nila kayo (That is why we do not want you go out in the streets so that there would less people that might be infected by the virus. Let us not waste the life of one of our doctors, nurse or anyone in the hospital because they are treating us)," it added.
Bactol was one of the three doctors in the country who passed away battling Covid-19. (PNA)
