Palace: Duterte won’t cling to power if he’s ‘dying, gravely ill’

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is not bent on clinging to power if he is “dying” or “gravely ill,” Malacañang said on Monday, September 24, following the Chief Executive’s admission that he underwent colonoscopy and endoscopy over a week ago.

“The President is transparent. ‘Yung mama nga ilang beses nang sinabi na gusto na niyang iwanan ang posisyon niya (He repeatedly said he wants to step down from office). He will not cling on [to power] if he’s dying or very gravely ill,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told Palace reporters.

In a speech delivered in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on September 21, Duterte admitted that he had undergone colonoscopy and endoscopy to check his health status since he was previously diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, a condition in which the esophagus changes.

Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure to examine a person’s digestive track, while colonoscopy is a procedure that checks the possible abnormalities in the large intestine and rectum.

The 73-year-old President, nevertheless, guaranteed that he is “still very good, still healthy, [and has] no problem.”

Roque said Duterte undergoing colonoscopy and endoscopy should not be a cause for worry, as these procedures were merely part of the President’s “routine” check-up.

“You know, to him, it was so routine na (that) he has no qualms about telling everyone, the whole world that he had it,” Roque said in a press conference.

“It was no big deal to disclose it. All medical condition is otherwise confidential. The fact that he’s willing to share it means it’s no reason for alarm,” he added.

Apart from the Barrett’s esophagus, Duterte likewise admitted earlier that he was also suffering from Buerger’s disease, a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs.

The President also previously revealed his battle with chronic back pains and migraines.

Roque reiterated that Duterte would let the public know, if the Chief Executive is suffering from a “serious illness,” as provided by the Constitution.

Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution states that “in case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health.”

“Of course, the Constitution says so but there is no serious illness that has to be disclosed,” he said. “He was so open about it. It was nothing. It was routine.” (SunStar Philippines)