President Rodrigo Duterte answered with a quip on Monday night (April 12) the criticisms against him following the cancellation of his public address last week amid rumors of his ill health.
In line with this, Malacañang assured the public that the government continues responding to the pandemic.
“If you want me to die early, you must pray harder… Pero kung sabihin mo, may sakit ako ngayon [If you say now that I have an illness] that would prevent me from exercising the powers of the presidency, wala ho [there is none],” the President said.
President Duterte also countered his critic Senator Leila De Lima, saying she deserved to be jailed and that he would not allow the country to become a narco-state.
“Binastos mo ang Pilipinas ng droga diyan mismo sa national penitentiary [You disrespected the Philippines through drugs inside the national penitentiary],” he said.
On April 8, De Lima criticized the President on Twitter for leaving “the Office of the President unattended.”
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the administration continues to do its duties with or without its activities being televised, and gave the assurance that the Chief Executive’s health is in good condition.
In response to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that found 65% of respondents believe that the President’s state of health is a public matter, Roque said, “Ang sabi po ng ating Saligang Batas, isasa-publiko lamang ang kanyang medical condition kung ang kanyang karamdaman po ay malala [The Constitution states that his medical condition will be publicized only if it is serious].”
The SWS survey was conducted from September 17 to 20 last year, and its results were released on Monday (April 12). – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG-jlo
