Rody: I never lied about my health
President Duterte yesterday defended himself from critics who have raised concern after a portable oxygen converter was spotted in his bedroom at his Davao City residence.
Duterte said he never lied about his health and has been up front about his having had Buerger’s disease – the formation of a clot inside a blood vessel that may obstruct flow and circulation.
The Chief Executive was apparently irked after much fuss was generated from photographs taken during his 72nd birthday on March 28 wherein his grandchildren greeted him in a surprise visit to his Davao home.
In the pictures was a portable oxygen converter at his bedside.
“Kagaya nung picture sa ’yung birthday ko – kasi ’yung na-picturan ’yung kuwarto ko may oxygen converter, karami na namang (Like a picture of an oxygen converter taken in my room on my birthday, so many…),” he said in a speech before the oath taking of appointed officials and members of the Philippine Councilors’ League at Malacañang.
“’Di ba sinabi ko sa inyo (Didn’t I tell you), I never lied. Tinatanong ako doon sa debates anong sakit mo (At the debates, they asked me what disease do I have). Sabi ko (I told them) Barrett Buerger’s because of smoking,” the President said.
He admitted he is having some problems with circulation of oxygen in his body and brain.
“So ang (blood) circulation ko hindi maganda (my blood circulation is not so good), lack of oxygenation,” he said.
“If you want to remain beautiful, use it, it’s good. Totoo. Sinabi ng mga doctor (That’s true. That’s what doctors
told me). They said use it kasi kung babae ka para gumanda ka lalo, mas maraming temptasyon (because if you are a woman, you will be beautiful and there will be more temptations).” Duterte explained he needed to use the equipment to ensure that oxygen continues to flow to his brain.
“I use it because they say my brain suffers lack of oxygenation. Matagal ko nang ginamit ’yan (I have been using it for so long). When I said that I – wala akong tinago (I didn’t hide anything). May nakita nila ’yung parang (The thing that they saw) oxygen. It’s not really an oxygen, it’s a converter,” Duterte said.
Duterte again stressed his stand against illegal drugs, which has caused concern among other countries, including the United States and the European Union.
The President said he needed to implement strong measures against drugs to save the youth and the nation.
He pointed out the importance of preserving the younger generation who will take care of their parents when they have grown old as they will be the ones buying them maintenance medicine and oxygen tanks.
Diet and sugar levels
In his speech in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday, Duterte admitted he needed to restrict his diet to ensure good health.
“I’m 72 yesterday. I cannot eat what I want. They said watch my sugar because it’s 6 mmol/L already, and I can’t drink anymore because I have Barrett,” he said,
The normal sugar level is between 4.4 and 6.1 mmol/L. Blood sugar levels for those without diabetes and who are not fasting should be below 6.9 mmol/L.
Duterte said he stopped smoking years ago.
“My oxygenation is not good because of smoking,” he said.
At this point, Duterte announced that he would enforce a smoking ban nationwide soon.
“That is why in the coming months, we will be implementing the no smoking law in the Philippines. You can only smoke if you are in the open sea, at least five kilometers from the coastal shores. Doon kayo maghithit (There you can smoke),” he said, adding an expletive.