Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied the allegations of Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison that President Rodrigo Duterte is sick and has gone in coma.
Roque said Duterte is “fine and well” and that the president will be present during the Kadayawan Festival activities. Roque added that Duterte will also appear in Cebu City on Tuesday, August 21.
“As usual, Joma Sison does not know what he talks about. How would he know the state of the health of the President when he is in faraway Netherlands?” Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
Meanwhile in a text message to GMA News, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the news is “absolutely false” saying the news was only Sison’s “wish”.
“Absolutely false. Perhaps that is the wish of Joma Sison hence when he is fed with the wrong information on PRRD’s [President Duterte’s] health he easily believes in it,” Panelo said in a text message.
“Unlike Joma Sison the President is in robust health. I wish him good health that he may live long enough to see the dawn of peace that has remained elusive between the communist insurgents and the armed forces,” Panelo added.
On Sunday, August 19, Sison took to Facebook and accused Duterte of falling into coma.
“The latest report (still to be verified or negated) is that Duterte has gone into coma since the afternoon or evening of today, Sunday, August 19. The report is still being verified by the press from the Palace,” Sison said.
“People are awaiting the personal appearance of Duterte and medical bulletin from his office.”
Along the post was a photo of Duterte allegedly taken during the national convention of his San Beda Law fraternity Lex Talionis Fraternitas on Saturday, August 19.
Sison said: “[Those present at the event] reported that the darkness of his face had become aggravated from its appearance the other day and that his walk and handshake had become more unstable.”
Roque advised the public not to easily believe information online.
Earlier, Duterte said he would be stepping down from his post saying he was tired of not being able to eradicate corruption in the country.
