Sison: Duterte’s health is a public concern, interest

FILE: President Rodrigo Duterte (ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison said Filipinos deserve to know the physical and mental health condition of President Rodrigo Duterte as it is a “matter of public interest and public concern.”

“With or without my prodding, he should present to the public his medical record in response to public demand,” Sison said in a statement on Monday, August 27.

Sison’s remarks came after Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano asked the Chief Executive to disclose the state of his health.

Citing a source, Alejano earlier said in a tweet that the President will be going to Israel not to check the condition of Filipino workers there but for medical purposes.

“According to Rep. Alejano, Duterte is going to Israel for medical treatment. Perhaps, It would be good if the Israeli doctors can fix his weak spine, which constantly pains him so much and which keeps him weak, frequently resting, and figuratively comatose,” the communist leader said.

“Duterte may not be literally comatose but certainly he is figuratively comatose because he does not do much work except to blabber between his rest periods,” he added.

Sison reiterated that he wants Duterte to keep himself in good shape so that the latter can be slapped with a warrant of arrest “for inciting mass murder, guaranteeing presidential protection and impunity to his death squads and giving them rewards at public expense.”

On Monday, the Chief Executive hit back at Alejano, saying he would even have his stomach, chest, and brain opened.

“Kung operahan nila ang utak ko ‘dun eh di mas maganda. Wala mang problema (If they will operate my brain, then that is better. That would be no problem),“ Duterte said in a sarcastic tone during a chance interview with reporters in Taguig City.

He also maintained that he will be going to Israel to look into the status of Filipino workers in the area.

“I’m there because of the 28,000 Filipinos. And it’s getting hotter there. And also in the Lebanese front, there is something a-brewing there. And in Jordan, we have 48,000 Filipinos. That’s why I am bringing [Environment Secretary Roy] Cimatu to prepare for that eventuality and just in case,” the President clarified.

Malacañang also belied Alejano’s claim, stressing that the ‘misinformation’ propagated by the opposition lawmaker who will run for a Senate seat in 2019 polls, is “certainly in aid of election.”

Duterte will be in Israel from September 2 to 5. After his Israel visit, he will then fly to Jordan.