Rumors on the health of the president

In perpetual pain but definitely not comatose. Joma Sison must have been hallucinating in his own sickbed in Amsterdam. Most likely, he is the one dying.

If Mr. Rodrigo Duterte were just an ordinary Tom, Dick, or Harry, neither Sison nor any Filipino would demand disclosure of his state of health. But since he is the president, head of state, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and exercises control over all executive agencies, the Cabinet, all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays, any Juan, Pedro or Kulas has the right to know his true state of health.

Of course, we do not think Sison, who is eating steaks and drinking expensive brandy in Amsterdam, has the right to make a definitive statement on Duterte's health. Sison is too far removed from reality, he is an ivory tower rebel leader who stays in his air-conditioned suites in the Netherlands, eating caviar and drinking champagne, while his ragtag followers are dying of malaria and starving in the jungles of the Cordilleras. In the language of Secretary Harry Roque, Sison is a spent revolutionary whose times have already expired. If rumors have it, he is himself sick and dying. And so, look, who is talking, the pot calling the kettle black.

As to Duterte, Article VII of the Constitution is clear on what to do in case of serious sickness. Section 12 says the public should be informed of the president's true state of health.

The Cabinet members in charge of national security and the chief of staff must have access to the president in case of serious illness. The president himself may transmit to the Senate president and the Speaker of the House a written declaration he is unable to discharge his duties. If he cannot do it anymore, then majority of the Cabinet members may do the transmittal.

In such an event, succession shall take place. The first in the line is the vice president, even if the president does not like her or trust her competence. She was duly elected and we have to uphold the law. Next in line shall be the Senate president, then the Speaker of the House.

So that is Vice President Leni Robredo, then Senate President Tito Sotto, then Speaker GMA (again?). Whether we like them or not, it matters not. The law is the law, our opinions are irrelevant. We have a government of laws and not of men. Our fondness for or aversion against any of them is unimportant.

But these rumors are trash because, the truth is Duterte is as healthy as an elephant. He can outlive both you and me.