Mayor Edgardo Labella (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Labella appeared before a virtual press conference Wednesday, making his first public appearance after taking a leave of absence to heal an ear infection. “I’m okay contrary to what others are saying that I am in comatose. People can be cruel but let’s just forgive them,” Labella said. The mayor, who sported what looked like a bandage on the right ear during the press briefing, said he had to take a two-day leave of absence starting January 20 due to an ear infection. The infection was diagnosed when the mayor went to the outpatient department of a private hospital for a checkup last Jan. 15.