President makes light of neuromuscular condition

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte made light of his neuromuscular condition Mysathenia gravis during his meeting with members of the Filipino community in Moscow, Russia Sunday.

Duterte said the genetic condition affects his eye muscles.

“May talent ako, magtingin ako sa’yo, ‘yung isang mata ko bumaba. Kita mo maliit ‘yung isa, tingnan mo. O ‘diba maliit? (I have a talent. I can look at you with my other eyes looking down. Look at it. See? My other eye is smaller?),” Duterte said.

“Actually my — that’s Myasthenia gravis. It’s a nerve malfunction. I got it from my — exactly from my grandfather … So, I believe really in genetics. Kung anong sa kanya, nakuha ko eh (I got it from him),” he added.

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular condition that leads to muscle weakness and can be life-threatening when the muscles of respiration are severely weakened.

But Duterte’s spokesman, Salvador Panelo was quick to address health concerns, saying that the President’s condition is not serious.

“Ang alam ko kay Presidente kapag kulang ang tulog saka siya parang matamlay. Kaya sa tingin ko hindi naman seryoso yung sakit (All I know about the President is when does not get enough sleep, that is when he seems to be indisposed. So I don’t think the condition is serious),” Panelo said in an interview on dzMM.

The Palace official also stressed that Duterte’s hectic schedule in his recent visit to Russia shows he is in good shape.

“Ganun siya katransparent, kinukwento niya. Ganun palagi ang sinasabi nila tinatago eh sinasabi niya nga agad kung anong nararamdaman niya e. I don’t think it’s that serious for us to worry about (He is that transparent, he tells the people. They always say he is hiding his condition but he always says exactly how he feels),” Panelo added.

The 74 year-old President’s state of health has been a recurring issue in his presidency given his advanced age. /gsg