‘Only Duterte can release medical records’

MANILA, Philippines — It would be up to President Duterte to decide whether to release his medical bulletin, his top aide said yesterday, as speculations about his health persist despite assurances by officials that he does not have a serious illness.

Presidential aide Christopher Go said Duterte is ready to disclose his health condition if he has a serious ailment as required by the Constitution. 

“Only the President can answer that,” Go said in a phone patch interview with reporters when asked whether Duterte would release his medical bulletin.

“As I said, the Constitution states that if the president has a serious illness, it has to be divulged. But the President has no serious illness,” he added.

Late last month, Duterte informed a group of doctors in Cebu that he had undergone endoscopy and colonoscopy, medical procedures that he said were related to his Barrett’s esophagus.

Endoscopy is a procedure for examining a patient’s digestive tract while colonoscopy is conducted to detect abnormalities in the large intestine. Officials had claimed the medical procedures were just part of the President’s medical routine.

Barrett’s esophagus, which has been associated with smoking and heavy drinking, is not cancer but it could develop into cancer in a small number of people, according to British charity group Macmillan Cancer Support.

Last Thursday, Duterte revealed that he went to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan to undergo medical tests and admitted that his Barrett’s esophagus had gotten worse.

The President has also promised to inform the public if he is suffering from cancer.

“It got worse...but I have to wait for that... But I would tell you that – if it’s cancer, it’s cancer. And if it’s third stage, no more treatment. I will not prolong my agony in this office or anywhere,” Duterte said at a dinner with alumni of the Philippine Military Academy at Malacañang.

As rumors swirl about Duterte’s health, the President went on an unannounced visit to Hong Kong last Saturday. Go said the trip was meant to give Duterte a much-needed rest but some internet users believe that Duterte went abroad to seek medical consultation.

Go insisted that Duterte merely rested in Hong Kong, as he chided critics who insist that the President is sick.

“To those who are claiming that he is sick, do not worry. Just help us,” the presidential aide said.

Go also denied reports that Duterte and his companions brought bundles of money when they were shopping in Hong Kong.

“That’s not true. Nobody was holding bundles of money. It’s just an intrigue. Prove it. They do not have proof. That’s not true,” he said.

Earlier, Vera Files quoted an unnamed source as saying that a security aide of Duterte was carrying a bundle of cash for the items bought by the President and his companions.

‘Normal’ for elderly

In an interview with Bombo Radyo Dagupan, national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said medical tests like endoscopy and colonoscopy are normal for elderly people like President Duterte. Esperon also downplayed reports the Chief Executive was seriously ill.

Esperon said the Chief Executive is already 73 years old “and it is just normal for an aging person” to undergo medical tests.

He said he has been undergoing colonoscopy tests every three years since his retirement as Armed Forces chief upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. Esperon is now 66. – With Eva Visperas, Delon Porcalla

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