‘Routine,’ says Palace on Duterte medical tests
MALACANANG on Monday assured the public that there was nothing to worry about President Rodrigo Duterte’s health after the Chief Executive admitted that he underwent endoscopy and colonoscopy a week ago.
In a press conference, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte’s colonoscopy and endoscopy were “routine.”
“I think that’s routine. Sinabi naman ng Presidente na talagang nagpapaganyan siyang test regularly. So routine naman po iyan. Nothing extraordinary,” Roque told reporters.
“You know, to him, it was so routine na he has no qualms about telling everyone, the whole world that he had it. And so I think human nature naman niya na it’s no big deal kaya it was no big deal to disclose it. All medical condition is otherwise confidential. The fact that he’s willing to share it means it’s no reason for alarm,” he said.
Roque also said Duterte’s hectic schedule proved that he has no serious illness, despite the recent procedures.
“Iyan po ay hindi seryosong karamdaman at nakita niyo naman ang schedule ng Presidente. Ako nga po hindi makasunod sa schedule niya. Karamihan sa inyo hindi rin makasunod sa schedule niya. So tingin ko, ‘yung kanyang hectic schedule ay patunay na wala siyang matinding karamdaman,” he said.
(You can see that it’s not a serious illness as you can see in his schedule. I for one cannot follow his schedule. Most of you can’t follow his schedule. So I think his hectic schedule is proof that he doesn’t have a serious illness.)
“Routine niya po iyan. Sinabi niya na talagang meron siyang karamdaman na kinakailangan routine. Nakalimutan ko kung ano ‘yung sinagot. ‘Yun ang sinabi niya. ‘Yun, ‘yun, kasama iyan doon sa kanyang sakit na regular siyang nag-papatest,” he added.
(It’s routine. He admitted that he has some illnesses that required routine check-ups. I forgot exactly what he said but that’s what he said. He needed these tests regularly for some of his illnesses.)
Duterte, in a speech before medical specialists attending the Asia-Pacific Association of Gastroenterology 3rd Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Forum in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Friday, admitted that he underwent colonoscopy and endoscopy.
Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure to examine a person’s digestive track while colonoscopy checks for abnormalities in the large intestine and rectum.
The President said the procedures were performed by his gastroenterologist, Dr. Joey Sollano.
Duterte also said he has a “bad case of Barrett.”
“I had my colonoscopy and endoscopy about a week ago,” Duterte said. “Joey [Dr. Sollano], did the procedure and he said that… Well, I have a bad case of Barrett. He said, if you’ll just stop drinking, you will live.”
Duterte admitted that he was suffering from “perpetual pain” caused by a spinal injury that he sustained as a result of a motorcycle accident years ago. CATHERINE VALENTE
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