MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed with finality a petition compelling the Malacañang to release the health records of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a resolution made public on Friday, the SC said petitioner Dino de Leon failed to present a “substantial argument to support a case for mandamus” in his motion for reconsideration.
The SC added that the arguments raised by De Leon in his motion were the same arguments that he had presented in his original petition that was dismissed before the justices.
“The Resolution dated May 8, 2020 dismissing the Extremely Urgent Petition for Mandamus is deemed final. No further pleadings or motions shall be entertained in this case,” the court said in a Sept. 8 resolution.
Last April, De Leon petitioned to compel the Office of the President to disclose Duterte’s health records, alleging that the nation’s leader appeared unwell in public addresses.
The lawyer also cited the illnesses that Duterte had admitted to having: Buerger’s disease, Barrett’s esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, spinal issues, daily migraines, and myasthenia gravis./PN
