Duterte’s Israel trip not about health — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday described as “misinformation in aid of election” Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano’s claim that President Duterte’s trip to Israel has something to do with the chief executive’s health. 

Duterte will visit Israel and Jordan next month to strengthen the Philippines’ ties with the two Middle Eastern countries, according to officials. He previously said he would send special envoy for overseas Filipino worker (OFW) refugees Roy Cimatu to Israel ahead of him to check the condition of Filipino workers there. 

Alejano, however, claimed in a Twitter post last Saturday that the President’s directive was not about OFWs. 

“Ayun sa aking bubuwit, itong trip na ito ay hindi patungkol sa OFW kung hindi patungkol sa kalusugan ng pangulo (According to my source, this is not about OFWs but about the health of the President),” the lawmaker, a vocal critic of Duterte, tweeted. 

Alejano posted the tweet as speculations about Duterte’s health condition surfaced.

Special assistant to the President Christopher Go dared Alejano and Sen. Antonio Trillanes to join the President on his trip, adding that the two opposition lawmakers should also have their heads checked.

“He (Alejano) is welcome to join. He is a congressman. And if the President is really going there for a medical checkup, the two of them – he and Mr. Trillanes – can have their heads checked,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Go also lambasted critics and those who wished the President ill, saying they shouldn’t worry because Duterte is as strong as a bull.

“To the critics, you might die before he does,” he added.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque maintained that Duterte has no serious illness, noting that the Chief Executive was in his “usual fiery self” when he addressed the conference of Visayas mayors in Cebu last Tuesday and troops of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao last Thursday. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Edith Regalado