The family of Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon were a bit hurt by text messages being passed around again on Thursday that the governor had died that triggered a deluge of calls, some even expressing condolences, his chief of staff Jose Ma. Valencia said yesterday.

While his family really appreciated the outpouring of sympathy and support from the public, they are asking that such text messages be avoided, Valencia said.

“Let us give the governor the respect that he deserves, spreading such lies that he died is not fair to him. We should respect the life of a person,” he said.

On Jan. 14 when the governor was also brought to the hospital for treatment, similar text messages were also circulated.

Valencia said he was answering phone calls from concerned individuals until 10 p.m. Thursday, many from people he did not know, and assuring them that the governor was still alive.

The false news that the governor had died Thursday caused many people, some all the way from Sagay City , to come to his home in Bacolod , he said.

One person even bought flowers only to be told the governor is alive, Valencia said.

This may not be the proper time but we advise the public that flowers will not be accepted, he said.

The governor is sick, we admit that, and we assure the public that we will be the first ones to make the proper announcement if needed, Valencia said.

Valencia said yesterday the governor signed some documents that the vice governor cannot sign.

Marañon is extending his leave of absence that was supposed to end yesterday for another 10 days, Valencia said.

In 2002, a growth was discovered in the governor's liver but doctors in the Philippines and at Standford Univesrity in San Francisco in 2005 found him fully cured, Valencia said.

Then later doctors in Manila discovered that portions of his liver had a growth again and medication was started and he was responding to treatment, until he was hit by community acquired pneumonia during the 2007 campaign that started his on-and-off deteriorating health, Valencia said.

The doctors planned to remove the growth in the governor's liver but decided against it because of his age, Valencia said. The governor is 73.

The governor has been prepared for any eventuality for five years now, Valencia said.

The governor was brought to the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital at about 5 a.m. Thursday because of erratic blood pressure but returned home at 11:15 a.m. of the same day on his insistence, after his condition stabilized, Valencia said.*CPG

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