THE Palace on Sunday dismissed concerns over the health of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying he “is stronger than a carabao.”
“We have seen what his activities are on TV. One time he is in Samar, then he is in Pangasinan, then he is seen in Davao in Facebook Live. For an unhealthy person, it would be impossible [to do] what the President is doing,” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar in an interview on state-run radio dzRB.
Andanar was reacting to a remark the President made during the regional convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Friday night.
“I am 72. Don’t ask me if I’m sick,” Duterte said, even though nobody asked. “Every 72-year-old in this world is sick.”
Speaking before the country’s lawyers, Duterte complained again about his getting tired of the rigors of his job as the nation’s Chief Executive, and even expressed willingness to pass his post on to anyone who would prove to do the job better.
“If this is the kind of job you are giving me, I could only endure so much; I think I deserve a needed rest,” he said.
He added there’s no need for a military coup, as he would relinquish his post to those who could offer a better solution to the country’s three main problems—drugs, criminality and corruption.
“If you want to remove me, fine; then I’ll just go to the forest. I have a hunting lodge there. I will spend my days there praying,” Duterte said, admitting that while he believes in God, he does not believe in any religion.
The President said he usually crosses the Pasig River at 1 p.m. to get to his office in Malacañang and works until 3 a.m. On other days, he said, when the folders pile up in his bedroom, he gets to sleep at 5 a.m., as he makes sure he finishes reading all the papers.
The President flies to his home in Davao City on weekends supposedly to rest, but still brings along some work.
Before his election in May, the former Davao City mayor admitted to be suffering from four illnesses—Buerger’s disease, Barrett’s esophagus, a respiratory infection and a slipped disc—none of which are fatal.
Buerger’s Disease is an inflammation of blood vessels, mostly in the limbs, that has been traced to smoking.