Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
He says he’s sick like most people his age. But his chief mouthpiece insists he’s in the pink of health.
In yet another episode of contrasting statements, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday insisted that President Duterte was healthy even after the 72-year-old leader himself told a group of lawyers that he has “medical issues.”
“Malacanang (assures) the public that President Duterte is fit and healthy to perform his job as the Chief Executive,” Andanar said in a statement.
“President Duterte is not complaining of anything about his physical and mental condition,” he added.
Speaking over state-run radio station DZRB, Andanar said Mr. Duterte was “stronger than a carabao,” noting how the President was able to attend to his hectic schedule despite his advanced age.
Hectic schedule
“We have seen the President’s activities on television. He is in Samar and then he would be in Pangasinan moments later,” he said.
“Then you will see him in Davao during a Facebook live [broadcast]. For a person who is not fit, it will be impossible for him or her to do what the President is doing,” he said.
In a speech before members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines at the Manila Hotel on Friday night, Mr. Duterte told his fellow lawyers that he was “sick.”
“At this point in time, I am 72. Don’t ask me if I’m sick. Every 72-year-old in this world is sick,” said the President.
Mr. Duterte had previously admitted that he had Barrett’s esophagus, which involves changes in the tissue lining of the esophagus, and was suffering from Buerger’s disease, a constriction of the blood vessels caused by nicotine accumulation.
He said he also had a slipped disc due to a motorcycle accident a decade ago, and was also diagnosed with acute bronchitis during the campaign period.
“I have no cancer. I have four illnesses, but they are not fatal,” the President said then.