DIGONG HAS CANCER?

President Rodrigo R. Duterte bares in a gathering in Manila Thursday that he underwent medical tests about three weeks ago

Instead of speculating about his health condition, I urge the public to pray for our President and continue to support his administration

Davao City Vice Mayor Bernard Al-Ag

Local officials still believe that President Rodrigo Duterte, who confirmed his visit at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center Wednesday, is still capable of continuing the mandate of his office despite announcing that he might have cancer.

Associated Press (AP) reported yesterday that Duterte, in a speech in Manila on Thursday, said he might have cancer, saying, "I don't know where I'm now physically but I have to wait for that. But I would tell you if it's cancer, it's cancer."

The 73-year-old former mayor of Davao City also said that he would not seek treatment if its on the third stage. He, however, is still awaiting the results of his medical tests conducted about three weeks ago although the doctor advised him to repeat the tests this week.

In the same speech, Duterte bared that he underwent an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Both tests aim to diagnose any abnormality in the digestive tract and colon.

Davao City Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte said that an endoscopy and colonoscopy are usual part of any executive check-up for a senior citizen and is not much cause for alarm.

Davao City Vice Mayor Bernard Al-Ag, in a chat message to SunStar Davao yesterday, said, "I believe that our President is healthy and is still very capable of fulfilling the mandate of his office.”

He also said, “Instead of speculating about his health condition, I urge the public to pray for our President and continue to support his administration,” he added.

Davao City Councilor Avegayle Ortiz-Omalza, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao, said that it is better to wait for the final result of his health condition instead of speculating.

“Kilala mo naman ang ating President, sometimes yung mga sinasabi nya ay hindi naman talaga yun ang gina-mean nya (You know the President, sometimes what he is saying is different from what he really means),” Ortiz-Omalza said.

Meanwhile, Davao City Councilor Edgar Ibuyan, Sr. said that he saw the president face to face two weeks ago and he is very alive and kicking.

“He looked okay to me and does not look sick at all,” Ibuyan said.

Political analyst Professor Ramon Beleno III, Chairman of the Political Science and History Department of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), said that it is constitutionally mandated that the Filipinos should be updated about his health condition./