MANILA – A lawyer is again urging the Supreme Court (SC) to order the disclosure of President Rodrigo Duterte’s health, following his admission that he was at risk of cancer.
Duterte, 75, said Tuesday he was told by his doctor he could develop cancer from Barrett’s esophagus, an inflammation of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
Lawyer Dino De Leon said Duterte’s admission “could not have been clearer in displaying the error” of the SC when it ruled earlier that he had failed to raise a prima facie case for mandamus, which would compel Duterte to disclose his health status.
“Surely, it is not within the best interest of the nation for the President’s health to be constantly doubted, especially when the discussion is that the President may already have cancer – a sickness that is not a laughing matter,” said the petitioner.
“If the Honorable Court respects the President’s declarations, it should take judicial cognizance of the same and do its solemn duty to uphold the right of the people to know the truth behind the state of the President’s physical and mental health,” he added.
The high court in May dismissed De Leon’s petition to Duterte to make public his latest medical and psychological exam results, health bulletins and other medical records.
For his part, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque maintained that the Chief Executive is healthy.
“Palace is not hiding anything about President Duterte’s health,” Roque said in a virtual press conference on Thursday.
“Alam niya ang responsibilidad niya (Duterte) bilang isang abogado at bilang isang Presidente,” he added. (With ABS-CBN News/PN)
