President Rodrigo Duterte saw his doctors Wednesday, after cutting short his trip to Japan due to “unbearable pain” in his spinal column near the pelvic bone. The pain was supposedly a consequence of his fall from his motorcycle last week.
Nonetheless, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo insists his boss remains in the pink of health.
"While this was unforeseeable, the public can rest assured that there is nothing to worry [about] as regards the physical health and condition of the President as he gives serious priority thereto in actively serving our country," Panelo said.
“Unforeseeable” is arguable, we believe, because it was the choice of a 74-year-old man to hop into a motorcycle despite his existing health conditions.
This was not the first time Mr. Duterte fell—an earlier similar fall caused a slipped disc, said to be causing spinal pain, for which he has to take a potent pain reliever.
Heavy smoking during Mr. Duterte’s younger days also caused him to have Buerger’s disease, which causes blockages in the blood vessels.
When the President came back from Russia earlier this month, Panelo insisted all he suffered from was a “very bad case of the colds” and an inability to sleep on the plane. But Mr. Duterte himself revealed he suffered from myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscle which are responsible for breathing, and moving parts of the body, including the arms and legs.
Clearly, the President is not “okay.” The question is whether the state of his health affects, or could potentially affect, his ability to govern despite the Palace’s adamant position on his well-being.
Of course, the President is committed to serving the nation he loves. Of course, he will do everything he can to stay on top of our affairs. But the flesh might be weak—and weaker still, given Mr. Duterte’s age and predisposition.
Small wonder then that speculation abounds as to how ably he can still lead us for the next three years.
Section 12 of Article VII of the 1987 Constitution is unequivocal: In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health. But how serious does “serious” need to be? And when is “okay” no longer okay?
The public will not be appeased with assurances from Palace officials. Even if Panelo talks himself hoarse telling us that Mr. Duterte is all right, he will not be as credible and reassuring as when an independent, respected medical doctor provides regular bulletins on the President’s health.
The Palace should also remember that such bulletins will effectively stop the rumors—all needless and counterproductive—if indeed Mr. Duterte were fit to work. As it is, Panelo and his team need not make a big deal out of the President being “up and about” or being able to keep up with a punishing schedule. These should be a given, and anything less is worrisome.
A leader owes the people no less than the truth.