President Duterte on His Health, “What You See is What You Get”

President Rodrigo Duterte finally breaks his silence on rumors that he is sick. This Saturday, June 18, he visited soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division advance command post in Butuan City, after going to Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte. In his speech, the president said there's nothing to worry about, and that he did not go on medical leave.



“My state of health is: What you see is what you get. Coma? Nasa kama lang ako,” President Duterte said, denying rumors that he is in comatose causing him not to be seen speaking in public for almost a week. He skipped the Independence Day rites in Luneta, and his crtics started to wonder where he has been in the following days of absence.

“My state of health is irrelevant. You must learn from Davao media. I do not need anybody to ask where I am going. Kasi pag di niyo ako nakita ng limang araw eh di patay na yan. So you swear in, (Vice President Leni) Robredo. Ano ba ang problema ninyo? May bise presidente. Ang importante is may successor ” the tough-talking president added.

President Duterte was last seen in public on Sunday, June 11 at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, where he honored the Marines who were killed in Marawi City. This Thursday, Malacanang released photos of him in Villamor again. On the same day, the Palace also released photos of the president with special assistant to the president, Christopher 'Bong' Go.

However, a pro-Liberal Party (LP) Facebook page said that the photos were fake and was taken last year. In one of the photos, a TV set showing a report about the about the Grenfell Tower fire is at the background. ANC later released a statement, confirming that the said report and crawler was aired live that day, Thursday, June 15 at 5:48 p.m.



Article 7, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution states, "The members of the Cabinet in charge of national security and foreign relations and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall not be denied access to the President during such illness.” This is why the opposition insisited that the public have the right to know if the president is sick.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao