In a media interview, President Duterte said the jailed 'mother of all drug lords' Sen. Leila de Lima was only interested on hearing news about him dying or death.
"Si De Lima, sabi niya, magsabi ako ng totoo kung saan ako ng dalawang araw. Sabi niya I should not lie to the nation. Si De Lima is only interested to hear about my dying or death. She does not care if I live. Ang hinihintay lang niyan sabihin na namatay na si Duterte. Mag-ambak-ambak [jumping] ‘yan doon sa selda niya," the President told the reporters while in Cagayan de Oro.
He also said that even Sen. Pangilinan is being pretentious and acting as if he really care about his welfare.
"Si Pangilinan also. What do they really care if I die today or tomorrow? If I get sick or tired? Your only interest is to know where I am and whether or not I am dying or dead! Hindi ako bilib na concerned ka sa akin, Kiko. I should not bare all," he stated.
Aside from the two LP senators, Sen. Panfilo Lacson also appealed to the Palace to have the President's state of health be disclosed.
"The health of the president of any country is not his or his family's private affair alone. It is a matter of public concern," Lacson said in a statement.
"Having said that, it behooves Malacañang to disclose the current state of health of the president if only to quell any speculation about his health. The public deserves nothing less," he added.
President Duterte revealed why he suddenly disappeared from the public eye.
"Hindi halata sa media, ganoon. Tatlo lang, apat, including the driver. Ngayon—oh ngayon, magtanong kayo ha? Hindi ninyo malaman, ngayon gusto niyo ng tanungin. Eh ‘di hindi na ako nag-incognito. I had a talk with somebody," he said.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella ridiculed Kit Tatad's column about the President suffering from mild stroke and also denied that the Cabinet officials were briefed by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr regarding President Duterte's health.
"He stood up. He showed himself. Kit Tatad may just be creating fantasies," Abella said. "Kit Tatad must be sourcing something that nobody knows about," he added.
Aside from Tatad's claim that Duterte had a mild stroke, he also stated that the President underwent a peritoneal dialysis (a treatment for early kidney disorder).
Senator Chiz Escudero defended the President from criticisms about his 5-day absence from the public eye.
Escudero stated that the President's absence is not against the Philippine Constitution and being the President doesn't forbid him from taking a very quick vacation. He also said that there is no law that prohibits Duterte from taking some rest.
"Hindi krimen ang magbakasyon ang pangulo, hindi porke’t pangulo ka hindi na pwedeng magbakasyon at magpahinga," Escudero said.
Escudero added that if the President took a vacation or does not have any public engagements to attend, it doesn't mean that he is not doing his job as the leader of the Philippines. And if he even have a serious ailment or disease, the Constitution states that the Malacañang must inform the public about his real health condition.
"Maliwanag ang probinsyon ng Konstitusyon at ito’y alam ng mga nakapaligid sa Pangulo na kapag seryoso ang karamdaman ng pangulo ay dapat ipagbigay alam iyan sa publiko," Escudero said.
But Duterte did not have the obligation to inform the public if there is nothing serious to worry about his health, which Duterte often says in his speeches.
"Ngunit kung ordinaryong sakit at hindi seryoso ay hindi na kailangan ipagbigay alam sa publiko," the senator added.
Source: GMA
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