In response to Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano calls for the full disclosure of the President’s health condition and that his trip to Israel was for “health reason”, President Rodrigo Duterte taunted Alejano by saying, “Eh kung operahan nila ang utak ko doon eh di mas maganda. Walang problema.” Duterte said in jest during a media interview at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
Eh ‘di ipakuha ko nalang ‘yung ano ko dumi, i-reserba ko sa kanya,” he said, referring to Alejano.
Duterte continued and made light of the never-ending speculation that he was seriously ill. He said, “Sa awa ng Diyos po, kaya ko pang umibig.”
But the President suddenly turned serious and said his trip to Israel from Sept. 2 to 5 was a “gift” to retiring military and police officials.
“Well, the trip to Israel is my gift to the retiring military and police officers. for serving the country well. Marami kami” he said.
“It will also be an opportunity for me to meet our Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) there an there are about 28,000 Filipinos. And it’s getting hotter there,” he said.
Last Saturday, Alejano claimed that Duterte’s trip to Israel was to seek medical treatment and not to meet OFWs there. Alejano said, “The president is old,and he is not healthy. So anong mangyayari sa ating bansa kung may problema ang Pangulo na wala na sa kapasidad na maglead sa ating bansa?”
Speculations that the President was ill surfaced after exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison claimed that Duterte went into a state of coma.
The speculation and call of Alejano was answered by both Palace Spokesman Harry Roque and Special Assistant for the President Christopher “Bong” Go.
Roque belied the claim of Alejano by saying that Duterte actually made a public appearance in Cebu for the Conference of the League of Municipalities and in Davao for the 12th Anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command earlier this week. While Go sarcastically told to Alejano that he can join the Presidential party.
Read relates story:
Bong Go tells Joma, come home and have a medical check up with Duterte
