MALACAÑANG on Wednesday belied the allegation of former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad that President Rodrigo Duterte had suffered mild stroke, a reason for the 72-year-old Chief Executive’s five-day hiatus last week.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella lashed out at Tatad for "creating fantasies,” reiterating that that Duterte is physically fit to work.
“You know, he (Duterte) showed himself. Kit Tatad may just be creating fantasies,” Abella told a press conference.
In an opinion piece dated June 19 and published at newspaper Manila Times, Tatad claimed that the President was rushed to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills last June 15 after allegedly suffering from a mild stroke that affected one of his arms.
Tatad added Duterte also reportedly underwent a “peritoneal dialysis,” a treatment for early kidney disorder.
The former senator also quoted “highly informed sources” that Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. briefed the Cabinet officials about Duterte’s health condition.
Abella, however, denied the alleged meeting of Evasco with the members of the Cabinet.
“Kit Tatad must be sourcing something that nobody knows about,” he said.
It was also Tatad who alleged that Duterte met the doctors of Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou, China, early January, prompting Duterte to launch series of tirades against him in his impromptu speeches.
Duterte went on a five-day break last week and resumed his visits to military camps in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte and in Butuan City last Saturday to dispel rumors about his supposed health problems.
Abella had said that Duterte is not facing any "major" sickness, amid concerns by some government officials that the President is not making any public appearance. (VoxPop Philippines)
