Palace: No need to release Duterte medical bulletin

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Friday said there is no need to release a medical bulletin on President Rodrigo Duterte’s health condition, noting that the Constitution only requires a health dispatch in case of a “serious illness.”

Duterte reportedly fell off a motorcycle on Thursday last week, sustaining bruises and scratches. The accident prompted him to cut short his Japan visit and consult his doctors on Wednesday.

The President’s spokesman, Salvador Panelo, has said that Duterte suffered from back spasms and was asked to rest a few days.

But when asked if the Palace will release a medical bulletin on Duterte’s health, Panelo said: “There’s no need for that [medical bulletin]. It comes only when there is a serious illness, that’s the Constitutional requirement.”

Malacañang earlier vowed to disclose to the public the result of Duterte’s medical consultation on Wednesday.

Duterte’s health has been a recurring issue in his presidency due to his advanced age. He recently bared having myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that could potentially have serious complications.

A lack of regular medical bulletins on the President’s health has sparked sporadic speculation about the state of his health, especially when he failed to appear in some of his engagements.

Transparency on the President’s health is enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.

Section 12 of Article VII reads: “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health. 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

READ: Duterte back on a motorcycle days after accident

READ: Palace vows disclosure of Duterte’s pain episodes medical consult result