‘A cause for worry only if serious,’ Arroyo on Duterte’s health

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is joined by Former President and Incumbent Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Arroyo and Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President as they witness the program proper during the 116th Labor Day Celebration at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City on May 1, 2018. (RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday said the state of President Rodrigo Duterte’s health should only become a cause for concern if the latter confirms it is “serious”.

Arroyo made the statement amid growing calls for President Duterte to disclose his health condition.

The Constitution provides that: “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health.”

“Only if he says that it’s serious,” Arroyo said in an ambush interview when asked if Duterte’s health is a cause of concern.

On Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque revealed that Duterte’s doctors have advised the President to undergo endoscopy to further examine his digestive tract.

“I have had also lots of ‘growths’ in my time. They were pre-cancerous polyps but they never ripened into cancer because timely removal was done with science and technology today,” Arroyo said.