Manila: The presidential palace said Filipinos should not be worried about President Rodrigo Duterte’s health after the latter said that he has a condition that causes involuntary movement of his facial muscles.
In a briefing at the palace on Monday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that he has myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles.
“It’s not a cause for serious concern. It is something that is common among people of his age,” Panelo said as he referred to the 74-year-old Philippine leader.
During a meeting with the Filipino community in Moscor, Russia last October 5, Duterte joked that his eyes at times wander uncontrollably and his eyelids would droop.
“One time, there was a Russian singer who sang in one of the events. It was a duet of the [Filipino] song ‘Ikaw’ (You). I wanted to look her straight in the eyes, but mine were wandering uncontrollably,” he said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
“So that’s my talent … When I look at you, my eye would droop. Actually ... that’s myasthenia gravis. It’s a nerve malfunction. I got it from my grandfather, he has the same condition,” he said.
Medical condition
The US National Institutes of Health describes myasthenia gravis as a “chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles, which are responsible for breathing and moving parts of the body, including the arms and legs.”
“The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that worsens after periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Certain muscles such as those that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, talking, and swallowing are often (but not always) involved in the disorder,” the NIH website said.
Duterte had often been reported to be suffering from various medical conditions. But Panelo said that is understandable considering his age. He said what the president only needs is some rest and time to be alone.
“I was even amazed how he was able to survive this Russian trip. My God, we flew to this, Sochi [Russia]. When we got there, he immediately got down to work,” the president’s spokesman said.
The state of the president’s health had always been the subject of concern by local and international media, not only in the case of Duterte, but also of the country’s previous leaders such as Benigno Aquino III, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada.
All of these previous presidents mentioned are still alive including Fidel V. Ramos, who is 91 years old.
