Lawyer revives bid to compel disclosure of Duterte health records

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Dino de Leon again pressed the Supreme Court to reverse its earlier ruling dismissing his plea to require the release of President Rodrigo  Duterte’s medical records and to set the case for oral arguments.

In his manifestation dated August 26, De Leon cited Duterte’s recent admission that his Barrett esophagus, a disease involving the tissue in the esophagus, is nearing stage one cancer as more than enough basis to give due course to his plea.

“Even as the Petitioner joins most of the nation in wishing him that these latest claims of cancer are indeed just mere gossip and rumor, it behooves this Honorable Court to treat the matter with utmost seriousness, as it comes from no less than the President himself,” De Leon said.

“The Honorable Court still has the opportunity to reconsider its position by resolving Petitioner’s motion for reconsideration filed by electronic mail on July 24, 2020,” De Leon added.

De Leon’s petition was dismissed last May without even asking Malacanang for comments on the plea, saying De Leon’s arguments were based on “hearsays” and that his claim that Duterte was suffering from serious illness was belied by the fact that the latter has been holding regular Cabinet meetings and televised briefings to give updates on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

JPV