Duterte's health a matter of 'national security,' says opposition

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the opposition said on Thursday that the health of President Rodrigo Duterte is a “national security issue” especially because of the myriad problems facing the country as they called on the government to be transparent about the chief executive’s state of well-being.

In a social media post, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said that although the septuagenarian Duterte needs some respite, his one-week absence is “unusual” for a president.

“The health of the president is a national security issue especially now that we have a security crisis in Marawi and martial law in Mindanao,” Alejano said.

“Though he deserves a much-needed rest just like all of us, one week absence to rest is rather unusual for a president,” the Magdalo representative added.

Duterte cut his state visit to Russia short to return to the country because of the Marawi crisis. He has been visiting military camps and giving speeches to troops since then. He has also been visiting wounded soldiers and Marines and has attended the wakes of those killed in action. 

The media has reported on the absences of past presidents as well as on speculations on their health. 

Palace: Duterte is well

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday morning, Ernesto Abella, presidential spokesperson, doused speculations about the health of the president, stressing that the chief executive is “well.”

Abella said that Duterte was just resting although he declined to give details on a definite day when the president would be seen in public again.

“The president needs [rest]. You have to consider that he has been on the road for at least 23 days regarding fulfilling his martial law supervisions. It has been really brutal, so we have to allow him this kind of rest,” he said.

Sen. Leila De Lima, in another of her dispatches from detention at Camp Crame, and Alejano said that it is the obligation of the government to be transparent about Duterte’s state of health.

De Lima, detained for charges that she financially benefitted from the trade of illegal drugs at the national penitentiary, said that the public deserves to be fully informed as Duterte’s health was both a matter of “public interest and national security.”

“The public needs to be fully informed. Knowing the truth about the President’s state of health is both a matter of public interest and national security,” De Lima said, stressing informing the public was the government’s “moral obligation.”

She added: “Of course, Malacañang is well within the constitutional bounds when it refuses to fully inform the public about the president’s ‘vacation’, but it is also its moral obligation to go beyond what the Constitution requires. This is called transparency and accountability, two words that are already lost to this administration and its senior cabinet officials.”

Until the administration became transparent about the president’s situation rumors about his condition would continue to spread, something not needed at this time as security forces continue to battle Islamist militants in Marawi City, according to De Lima.

“Amidst their continued and constant service, where is the president? Where is our commander-in-Chief?” she asked.

Both De Lima and Alejano cited Section 12, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution in emphasizing the obligation of government officials to apprise the public about the president’s state of health.