MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has belied the claim of former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad that according to “highly informed sources,” President Rodrigo Duterte suffered a mild stroke and was rushed to a hospital in San Juan City when he was out of public sight for almost a week.
Laughing before he answered journalists’ queries on Wednesday, June 21, about the chief executive’s state of health, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella dismissed Tatad’s claim in his June 19 newspaper column as make-believe.
“He (Duterte) stood up, he showed himself. Kit Tatad may just be creating fantasies,” Abella told reporters.
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Asked if there was truth to the claim that Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. had briefed Cabinet members about Duterte’s mild stroke, Abella replied, “Like I said, Kit Tatad must be sourcing something that nobody knows about. Okay?”
In his column published in the Manila Times, Tatad, quoting “highly informed sources,” said Duterte had suffered a mild stroke, which supposedly affected his arm, and was brought to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills last Thursday, June 15, where he reportedly also underwent a peritoneal dialysis — a treatment for early kidney disorder.
Tatad said that according to the same sources, Evasco “briefed some members of the Cabinet about it on Friday” and that “the President’s most trusted colleague was eager to know if Vice President Leni Robredo knew anything about” the health condition of the chief executive” “and what was her reaction to it.”
Last Saturday, June 17, Duterte made his first public appearance in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte after five days of absence.
In his speech during the founding anniversary of Agusan del Norte, the President said in Bisaya that, “It’s not that I snubbed Independence Day. My body was overwhelmed. I really needed to rest.”
He said that on Friday night, June 16, he went to his hometown of Davao City and “slept” because “I needed to conserve energy because you know… It’s important because it adds to happiness.”
Also last Saturday, the President went to Butuan City and joked during a press conference there that, “Nasa kama lang ako. Kayo lang nagsabi na-coma ako [I was in bed. You are the only ones saying that I went into a coma.]
“My state of health is what you see is what you get. I do not need anybody to ask me where I’m going. Kapag hindi n’yo ako nakita ng limang araw eh di patay na [If you don’t see me for five days, then probably I’m already dead],” he said.
Duterte added that the public should not be worried because the country has a Vice President, who could replace him.
“Ano ba problema n’yo, may bise presidente?…Do not worry, there is the Vice President. My state of health is immaterial. Ang importate may successor. Ayaw pa n’yo ‘yan? Isang araw bago na naman…bagong Presidente.”
[What’s your problem when there is a vice president?…Do not worry, there is the Vice President. My state of health is immaterial. What is important is that there is a successor. Don’t you like that? One day there will be somebody new again…a new President.]
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