Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Voltaire F Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. twitted the opposition after a photo of President Rodrigo Duterte participating in a meeting with members of the government’s COVID-19 task force debunked rumors that he was airlifted to Singapore to undergo emergency treatment.
“Harry, I think you should demand to know the medical condition of the opposition at this moment,” Locsin wrote on Twitter, referring to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
Harry, I think you should demand to know the medical condition of the opposition at this moment. https://t.co/yjulXFAGWK
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 17, 2020
Roque also announced that the President will address the nation Monday night.
Earlier, Duterte’s long-time aide and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go posted a photo of the President having dinner with his family following rumors regarding the chief executive’s health.
“After dinner, I just saw a photo of him having late din-din. The late for dinner president,” Locsin said in a separate tweet.
After dinner, I just saw a photo of him having late din-din. The late for dinner president. I heard the opposition is checking into the hospital for nervous breakdown. Um, uh, I'm afraid high blood pressure is not a defense for destabilizing the state. https://t.co/iJaVVPNYiW
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 17, 2020
“I heard the opposition is checking into the hospital for nervous breakdown. Um, uh, I’m afraid high blood pressure is not a defense for destabilizing the state,” he added.
Go also posted a live Facebook video, where Duterte said he has been staying in Davao City “all along.”
“Umiiwas tayo ng (Just avoiding) COVID. The admonition is to wash your hands, wear a mask, cover your eyes and stay home. That’s what I did. Andito po ako sa Davao. Huwag po kayong maniwala (Don’t believe the rumors),” he added.
Duterte’s state of health has been a recurring issue in his presidency given his advanced age.
The 75-year-old President has admitted publicly that he has, among other things, Buerger’s disease and Barrett’s esophagus, and that he has been experiencing occasional headaches and has spinal issues which he attributes to a motorcycle accident when he was 68 years old.
He has also revealed to taking sleeping pills and the highly addictive Fentanyl and to having myasthenia gravis —an autoimmune disease that destroys muscle receptors and can result in the drooping of eyelids, or overall weakness.