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PHILIPPINES-DUTERTE-HEALTH
Philippines’ Duterte says underwent ‘cancer’ testing
MANILA, Oct 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has
revealed that he is awaiting the results of fresh medical tests, adding that
“if it’s cancer, it’s cancer”.
Duterte, 73, is the oldest person ever to be elected president in the
country and speculation about his health has cropped up regularly since he
took power in 2016.
In a speech late Thursday, the president said he underwent an endoscopy and
colonoscopy about three weeks ago but that he was advised this week to repeat
the tests.
“I don’t know where I’m at now physically, I have to wait for that. But I
would tell you that if it’s cancer, it’s cancer,” he said.
“And if it’s third stage, no more treatment. I will not prolong my agony in
this office or anywhere,” he added.
Speculation began to swirl in Philippine media after Duterte missed a
Wednesday cabinet meeting and another public event.
Duterte keeps up a punishing schedule of appearances ranging from shopping
mall openings to police funerals, and frequently delivers multiple, lengthy
speeches per day.
The government had denied the leader was having health problems, with
spokesman Harry Roque saying the president “just took his day off.”
“I assure you that I have no information that he went to a hospital,” Roque
added.
However, in Duterte’s Thursday speech he said: “There was supposed to be a
cabinet meeting, that was yesterday, but… Somebody advised my doctor just
to repeat and get some (medical) samples.”
Duterte has said previously that he suffers from daily migraines and
ailments including Buerger’s disease, an illness that affects the veins and
the arteries of the limbs, and is usually due to smoking.
He has cited his ill health as the reason for skipping events during
summits abroad.
The president, known for his deadly crackdown on drugs, also revealed in
2016 that he used to take fentanyl, a powerful painkiller, because of a
spinal injury from previous motorcycle accidents.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0857 hrs