Rody: I’m losing my hair over problems

MANILA, Philippines -  He’s losing his hair due to stress over reports of the increasing number of soldiers killed in the Marawi City siege.

At the Presidential Security Group (PSG)’s 120th founding anniversary in Malacañang Park yesterday, President Duterte also spoke about death and dying amid questions about his true state of health.

“Your life is no less important than mine. We are all the same. And your role in this government is just the same, not less important
 also (than) mine,” the commander-in-chief said.

“And we value our lives, but there’s always the possibility that all of us, one way or the other, we face danger and death always looms in the horizon,” Duterte said.

Again quoting his favorite Bible verses, Duterte said there is always time for everything.

“But you know, there is always a time to live and a time to die. How do you die? It’s God’s call, not ours. You may get to live until your retirement days or I may die early,” he added.

Earlier, Duterte led the groundbreaking ceremony for the building of a new PSG hospital, which will have hyperbaric oxygen therapy. 

It was at this juncture that Duterte, 72, talked about losing hair due to his dismay over developments in the military operations against local terrorist group Maute in Marawi.

“As a matter of fact…Wala namang kalbo sa pamilya namin pero I began to lose my hair at the back. Ang laki na ng patch dito. Tiningnan ko ‘yung mga kapatid ko, pinsan ko, wala sila,” he said.

He expressed how he has “wallowed in sorrow” upon reading briefers about the deaths of soldiers deployed in conflict areas in Mindanao, which is now under martial law.

“Pero sa kakakamot ko, kasi hindi ka man magkamot sa harap, dito sa likod naubos. At night, I grapple especially when I read the briefer and how many soldiers I have lost for the day,” Duterte said.

“More than anybody else, ako ‘yung naghihinakit. I really wallow in sorrow because ako ang nag-utos na pumunta diyan at makipag-away kayo. That is the moral burden that I carry all day and all night, sa totoo lang,” he said.

Duterte downplayed insinuations about his health, saying he was merely misquoted by the media that he was placed in a coma when he was actually in a kama or bed.

Duterte has been known for dishing out jokes even in the middle of his “serious” speeches. “Kaya sasabihin ko sa inyo na may problema rin tayong isa because there is a pretender to the throne, assuming that I die within maybe tomorrow, next year, or next month,” he said, referring to lawyer Ely Pamatong, who has declared he is the rightful leader of the country.

The Chief Executive noted that Vice President Leni Robredo remains in the line of succession to the presidency. 

“There are two claimants to the presidency…Ang isa, nag-organize na at he has claimed that he has deposed me, presidential candidate…Pamatong. Sabi niya, nag-take over na siya,” he said.

“Eh ngayon, nandiyan si Leni. Baka magkamali kayo ng kampo ha. Dito tayo sa Constitution. There is a successor there,” Duterte said.