President Rodrigo Duterte RENE LUMAWAG / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
By President Duterte’s own admission, he sweats so excessively it would even look like he peed in his pants.
“Touch my back, my pants, it’s all wet now. That’s hyperhidrosis—excessive sweating,” the President said.
Mr. Duterte now prefers that his public engagements be held in the late afternoon or evening to avoid exacerbating his condition—excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis.
Later hours
Speaking at the opening of the P350-million bridge project on C.P. Garcia Highway in Davao City on Thursday, the President apologized for being late, as he was limiting his public appearances to the later hours of the day.
“I purposely asked for a late, late afternoon opening, inauguration. I have hyperhidrosis. It’s excessive sweating,” he said in a mixture of English and Visayan.
Mr. Duterte arrived shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday for the 4 p.m. event, explaining that his condition could be made worse by the afternoon heat, especially during the hot season.
This is not the first time that the President showed that punctuality was not his strongest suit.
On May 4, he was scheduled to grace the opening of the 37th Principals Training and Development Program and National Board Conference at SMX Davao City, but showed up more than two hours later.
On April 26, he was supposed to depart for Singapore around 5 p.m. but arrived more than an hour late.
On June 4, 2017, he was expected at the Camp Evangelista military hospital in Cagayan de Oro to visit and award wounded soldiers around 2 p.m. but he showed up past 6 p.m.
On Aug. 6, 2016, he was scheduled to be at Camp Panacan in Davao City for the wake of four soldiers slain by communist rebels around 2 p.m.
He showed up more than 10 hours later and conducted a press conference around 1 a.m.
‘Abnormal thing’
On Thursday, the President described his condition as an “abnormal thing” that he acquired through a medical procedure he underwent years ago.
“So if the bridge would be opened at 1 p.m. and you invite me to be here at 2 p.m., you might as well start the event without me because I will never arrive at that time,” he said.
Prior to assuming the presidency in June 2016, Mr. Duterte said he would observe a daily schedule of 1 p.m. to midnight.
The President said he intended to rise at 10 a.m. and be ready for work by noon, only ending his hectic schedule and retiring to sleep by midnight.
On Thursday, he appealed to those who would want to invite him to public engagements to consider his condition of excessive sweating and adjust the schedule.
Apology
“So if you want to invite me, my day starts at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m.,” he said.
Before ending his speech, the President apologized for his tardiness.
“So with that, I’d like to thank your presence. I am sorry I’m late. I said, next time do not be surprised,” he said.
Based on medical journals, hyperhidrosis can be caused by either neurologic or endocrine disorders; infectious or other systemic diseases.
It can even occur in healthy persons, and heat and emotion could sometimes trigger it.
There are several treatments available for hyperhidrosis, including anticholinergic drugs, but in severe cases, thoracic surgery could be considered. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER MINDANAO