Manila: Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte denied rumours he had a stroke which made him skip campaign events, adding he has three other “non-fatal” illnesses, but refused to disclose his medical records to the public.
“I am well. I was given antibiotics because of acute bronchitis — at the Cardinal Santos Medical Centre (where I was confined overnight, from Thursday to Friday). The ailment gave me severe migraine and nausea. Doctors told me to rest,” said Duterte, 70, the presidential candidate of opposition Fight for Peoples’ Democratic Philippines.
His “non-fatal ailments,” he said, included a slipped disc due to a motorcycle accident 1996; and Barrett’s oesophagus, or the development of cells in his oesophagus that resemble the cells of his intestines due to perennial gastroesophageal reflux or the return of food he eats to his oesophagus.
“I also have Buerger’s disease,” said Duterte, referring to inflamed vessels that supply blood to his arms and legs, due to long years of smoking and drinking. If blocked with blood clots, extremities of arms and legs could turn black and, in worst case scenario, would result in severe infection and amputation, doctors said.
“I will release them (my medical records only) if Mar Roxas will show he is circumcised,” Duterte chided
Roxas, 58, the ruling Liberal Party’s presidential candidate, had obliged all presidential candidates to reveal to the public the status of their health.
Duterte claimed Roxas as the mastermind of rumours being spread through text messages about him having throat cancer. Roxas has denied the allegations.
“He quit cigarettes and alcohol,” said Duterte’s common-law wife Cielito Avancena.
Duterte will attend a campaign event at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Buhangin, Davao City on Sunday, organisers said.
He did not campaign from Friday to Saturday after he failed to speak at a medical convention at Crowned Plaza Hotel in suburban San Juan in Thursday. He failed to attend his oath taking ceremony as head of his party in Manila’s Intramuros after his proclamation rally in Manila’s Tondo on February 9.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay, 73, presidential candidate of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), denied rumours he has lupus and is undergoing dialysis due to malfunctioned kidneys. “I am as strong as a carabao (water buffalo) because I was born poor,” said Binay in a text message.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, 70, of People’s reform Party said she is “now cancer-free” after revealing she was diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer.
Noting that he is “physically, mentally, and emotionally fit” to run as president, Roxas said candidates are not releasing their medical records to the public so as not to lose votes.
