MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte Monday denied that he is seriously ill and assailed communist leader Jose Maria "Joma" Sison for saying that he is in a coma.
In a Facebook live video uploaded to dispel rumors that he is sick, Duterte said Sison is the one suffering from illness.
Related Stories
"I'm alive—fairly healthy and I'm having dinner with a beautiful lady from Davao. She's Vernice, she's on leave from Harvard. I invited her to discuss some things along the way," the president said in the nearly five-minute video posted by his aide Christopher Go.
He was referring to his female visitor who had dinner with him in a hotel in Davao City.
"I am still okay. He (Sison) said I'm comatose? How can you be comatose with a beautiful lady. If I were comatose and I see Vernice, I would really rise. That's it. You are the one who is comatose. You are the one who is sick," Duterte added.
The president mocked Sison and wished him long life.
"Joma, ang wish ko sa buhay, maski wala ka nang silbi sa mundong ito, mabubuhay ka pa rin ng mga 1,000 years para ikot ng ikot ka na lang dito sa mundo (I wish you will live for 1,000 years even if you no longer have a purpose so you can roam around aimlessly on earth)," he said.
"I think you are the reincarnation of the guy... it's a biblical... I don't know if it's in a book in the Bible. He's a guy who's been around walking around the planet Earth. And he's not dying."
Duterte was referring to the Wandering Jew, a legendary character who was doomed to walk on earth until the end of the world because he taunted Jesus.
Duterte claimed that the Netherlands is already complaining about the expenses of Sison. The rebel leader has been on self-exile in the European country since 1987.
"You frequent the hospital without paying your bills. You're not paying and you're abusing the hospitality of the Netherlands," Duterte said.
The president said he would bring Sison to jail if he returns to the Philippines.
"If you think that you are sick, come home and I will bring you to the place—it's called Bilibid. There, we will provide you with a space: a bed and... plenty to keep you company," he added. — Alexis Romero