By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Wednesday dismissed some calls for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to disclose his health condition and undergo a hair follicle drug test.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro questioned the basis of a petition filed by the United People’s Initiative (UPI), citing a previous Supreme Court ruling that said a sitting President cannot be compelled to release medical records without substantial claims.
“Ang Supreme Court ay nagbigay na rin po ng desisyon patungkol po dito na hindi po kinakailangan at kailangang sapilitang magbigay ang isang Pangulo ng kaniyang medical records,” Castro said.
“So, kung puro tsismis lang po ang pagbabasehan ninyo at guni-guni lamang at wala kayong anumang basehan, sa tingin po natin ang Supreme Court ay hindi naman po babaliktarin ang ganitong klaseng jurisprudence.”
Castro also slammed former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s statement after Marcos on Monday brushed aside rumors about his health and was seen performing a few jumping jacks and jogging within the Palace compound.
“Ang pagtakbo po ay hindi masama. Mas maganda po na tumakbo ng ilang metro kaysa tumakbo sa kamay ng batas,” she said, pertaining to Roque’s pending cases in the country related to his alleged involvement with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
On the issue of transparency, Castro stressed: “You have seen the President working, you have seen reporting, face-to-face, personal pa. So unless they can prove that there is serious illness, then there’s no need for the President to do that, based on the Supreme Court decision.”
With the proliferation of false information about the President’s health online, Castro said that at least three fake news peddlers would be implicated in a complaint to be filed by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) before the Department of Justice.
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