MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has called on the public, including senators demanding a full disclosure of President Rodrigo Duterte’s health condition, to give the chief executive some “alone” time.
Estrada, a former president, said he understands the difficult situation Duterte is currently in, especially now that the country is beset by many problems, foremost of which is the nearly month-long crisis in Marawi City.
“Let’s give him the privilege of being alone for a while. It’s hard to be a President, ‘di lang ‘yan ang problema ng bansa,” Estrada said during the presentation of the 30 candidates of Miss Manila 2017 pageant at the Manila City Hall on Friday, June 16.
“I already came from that situation, I think he is just getting some rest,” Estrada replied when asked what he thought caused Duterte to stay out of the public eye since skipping the Independence Day ceremonies at Rizal Park on June 12.
“Of course, he is facing a lot of problems… as a president, especially the problem in Mindanao,” said Estrada.
Several senators, including detained Senator Leila De Lima, are calling on Malacañang to reveal Duterte’s state of health, saying the President’s health is a matter of public interest and of national security.
When he was president, particularly during his all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2000, Estrada recounted that he, too, found it hard to sleep at night, causing him physical and mental stress.
“I don’t like giving excuses now. Just like me before, when a lot of soldiers die, I couldn’t sleep,” he said.
Perhaps, Estrada speculated, Duterte could be spending more time with his advisers planning how to end the armed conflict in Marawi and looking for solutions to the country’s many problems.
“Maybe he is thinking about how to solve the problems of the country—economy, peace and order, everything. It’s not easy being a president,” he added.
“Let’s just all wish him good health, and pray,” Estrada said.