MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has admitted undergoing a blood test “almost every other day” due to an illness he acquired through smoking.
Speaking at the 7th Union Asia Pacific Regional Conference Tuesday night, Duterte bared having his blood extracted after acquiring Buerger’s disease, a rare condition involving the constriction of blood vessels which may impede blood flow.
“I’m 74 years old, I do not want to die of TB (Tuberculosis). I do not want to die of lung cancer. As a matter of fact, I got — I acquired Buerger’s disease from smoking. That is why my doctor is here. She gets my blood…Almost every other day,” Duterte said.
The President earlier admitted that he suffers from back pains, migraines, and Buerger’s disease.
During the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit last year, Duterte skipped some events because he “took power naps.”
Following rumors of his deteriorating health, Duterte had also admitted that he underwent colonoscopy and endoscopy but denied nursing a serious illness. /gsg
READ: Duterte admits hospital visit for colonoscopy / Duterte colonoscopy ‘no reason for alarm’