Alejano: Health status of Duterte is no laughing matter

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano (File photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s state of health is not a laughing matter and needs to be disclosed to the public.

Alejano earlier said Duterte’s trip to Israel on Sept. 2 to 5 had something to do with his health—an allegation which the President had mocked.

READ: Duterte mocks Alejano, plays with Magdalo health scare claim | Duterte makes light of Israel trip: I’ll have brain, chest operations

But the opposition lawmaker told Duterte that joking about the state of his health “is not fair to the Filipino public you serve.”

“It is a serious matter which requires a clear and straightforward answer to allay the worries of the public,” he added in a statement.

“(To) joke about it and not take it seriously is a great disservice to the Filipino people. Government leaders should refrain from resorting to ad hominen. Mabuting sagutin na lang ang isyu ng diretso at klaro [It is better to just answer the issue directly and clearly],” he also said.

The congressman even dared the President to undergo a medical check-up.

“I would like to be wrong on this one. Pero kung talagang naghahamon sila patungkol sa estado ng kalusugan ng pangulo, hindi ko na kailangang sumama sa Israel para mapatunayang malusog siya [But if they really issue this challenge regarding the state of health of the President, I don’t need to join them in Israel to prove if he is indeed healthy] ,” Alejano said.

“We can always have the medical check-up done here in the country, say in St. Lukes or in Cardinal Santos where the president regularly gets his check-up,” he added.

The former Marine captain added that if Duterte does agree to disclose his state of health, then he should make it public because it has “implications to national security.”

“It should be done in the presence of all concerned stakeholders and the results should be made public. In this way, we can put to rest this issue because the health of the president has severe implications to national security and the public has the right to know,” Alejano explained.

If he would have his way, he said he would prefer that Duterte is healthy.

“I want the president to be healthy with a sound mind and body for the sake of our country. We need a president who can assure the people in times of disasters and calamities; provide leadership and direction when there is chaos, and provide solutions when faced with serious problems. A sick and incapacitated president will lead the country to perdition,” Alejano explained.

READ: Cayetano: Alejano becoming a ‘purveyor of fake news’

Communist Party of the Philippines founder, Prof. Jose Maria Sison earlier alleged that Duterte fell ill during the national convention of his fraternity, Lex Talionis Fraternitas in Davao City. Sison cited a “latest report” which he did not identify.

Duterte, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go had denied this.

READ: Duterte not ill, says Roque | Duterte in ‘kama’ not ‘coma’ – Bong Go

Article VII Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution states that “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health.”

It adds that 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.” /jpv