Alan Cayetano: ‘Duterte won’t hide health issues’

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is not the type who hides his health condition, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday.

Cayetano hit Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano for claiming Duterte’s visit to Israel next month has something to do with his health.

“The President has never kept things about his health. If he suffers from something or feels something, he talks about it,” Cayetano told reporters.

He said even if Alejano’s allegations were true, such could not be hidden since a state visit is a highly public event where Duterte’s every move can be monitored.

“So whether a doctor goes to him or he goes to a hospital, that can’t be kept secret. So I don’t know if he (Alejano) wants to be senator so bad that he is becoming a purveyor of fake news,” Cayetano said.

He said Duterte is expected to witness the signing of various agreements between the Philippines and Israel on labor, agriculture, trade and security.

For veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the President’s lack of rosy cheeks is “not a proof that he is suffering from a serious illness.”

Macalintal was reacting to Communist Party of the Philppines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison’s social media post that Duterte was comatose, a claim denied by Malacañang. 

“His ‘dark face’ is caused by his going up and down the mountains and should be regarded as the gospel truth, until proven otherwise by competent medical authorities,” the lawyer said.

“All other interpretations of his ‘darkening face’ are mere speculations, if not totally hearsay or mere wishful thinking. Only God knows the real truth behind the darkness of his face,” he added.

Macalintal also said it is not for Duterte to disclose his health condition “but it is up to those asking for such disclosure to prove the basis of their demand.”

Under the Constitution, the public shall be informed of the state of the President’s health only “in case of serious illness.”

Macalintal maintained that by making public appearances like a recent event at a hotel in Davao, Duterte had “practically disclosed” that he is in good health and not in any “serious illness.”  –  With Sheila Crisostomo