Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8) — The Supreme Court says that President Rodrigo Duterte’s public appearances in recent months prove he is not suffering from serious illnesses.
The high court issued on Wednesday a six-page notice of resolution two months after it dismissed a petition seeking the release of the president’s health records.
It emphasized that the president has been conducting regular Cabinet meetings and televised addresses regarding the government’s response to contain the spread of COVID-19, which shows that he is not suffering from serious illnesses.
“Apparently, petitioner’s allegation that the President is seriously ill is unsubstantiated and is based merely on petitioner’s surmises and conjectures regarding his perception of the declining health of the President,” it added.
In May, the Supreme Court junked the petition filed by lawyer Dino de Leon in April who argued that the Office of the President is duty-bound to disclose the health of Duterte as mandated by the Constitution.
Thirteen justices voted against the petition, while two dissented.
READ: Supreme Court junks bid to disclose Duterte’s health records
The notice of resolution also noted that the petitioner failed to “establish the existence of a clear legal right that was violated.” Moreover, his claims of illnesses being suffered by Duterte are “merely based” on what he saw on online news, which the court said are “hearsay.”
The Supreme Court added that based on their deliberations, the president has the choice on how he will inform the public of his health status.
Duterte has openly admitted that he is suffering from several illnesses like daily migraines, nausea, pain due to a spinal injury, Buerger’s disease or a disorder affecting blood vessels, and Barrett’s esophagus or a complication which causes heartburn or acid indigestion.
