City doc reminds folk on heatstroke; PNP Naga mum on ‘jueteng’ existence

By Paulo DS. Papa

The chief of the Naga City Health Office (CHO) has warned the public on heatstroke, which is caused by overheating of one’s body as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperature especially during summer months.

The CHO issued the warning after the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) registered a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius after days of cold weather late last year and early this month.

In an interview, CHO chief, Dr. Vito Borja, said that high temperature causes heatstroke that may lead to death.

Borja advised that people when going outside of their houses should wear loose clothing, hats and bring drinking water.

He also advised residents to use umbrellas as much as possible.

Borja said a person suffering from heatstroke should be immediately brought to a shaded place and cool the person’s entire body by sponging or spraying with cold warter.

“When the patient becomes conscious, give some water to drink and aspirin to intake” he said.

Borja also clarified that high temperature does not affect Covid-19 virus, contrary to rumors that the virus will die through high temperature.

Meanwhile, officials of the Naga City Police Office (NCPO) have refused to give any statements on the existence of jueteng operation in the city even if bet collectors are openly collecting bets from bettors while police authorities keep a blind eye on the illegal activities.

To recall, the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office, last week, said that jueteng is no longer existent in the province, contrary to a news item published in this paper that jueteng remains unabated in Albay and Camarines Sur provinces.

Some local media practitioners in Naga City and Camarines Sur told Bicol Mail that indeed jueteng is alive in the city and in the province particularly in Partido and Rinconada areas.

“Jueteng is masquerading as Small Town Lottery (STL). The jueteng operator uses the winning numbers of the STL draws as their winning numbers too,” a mediaman who is familiar with the issue said.

The officials of the NCPO Intelligence Unit when asked to comment on the existence of jueteng in the city, refused to give a statement to Bicol Mail.

Even Police Senior Master Sergeant Tobias Bongon III, NCPO’s spokesman, refused to comment on the issue.