MALACAÑANG cannot determine if President Duterte is suffering from a serious illness following the Chief Executive’s admission Thursday about going to the hospital for a follow-up examination last Wednesday.
Duterte disclosed that he went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City to enable doctors can get a sample after a possible growth was discovered in his digestive tract.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that Duterte revealed during the command conference Thursday that doctors asked him to clarify what they discovered in his digestive tract.
“Endoscopy is what he underwent. And I think endoscopy was recommended from his own words, in the general staff command conference, because they wanted just to be sure that there was a growth, and they wanted to know more about the growth,” Roque said. “Right now we don’t know if it’s serious because he went for a diagnostic exam,” he added.
According to Roque, the suspected growth was first discovered after Duterte’s endoscopy and colonoscopy three weeks ago. He said Duterte’s recent diagnostic exam was limited to upper endoscopy.
“He had a general exam and after which I suppose from what he said in the command conference, they wanted a more specific exam zeroing in on something,” he said.
Duterte said that he himself does not know where he is physically. He assured that he will let the public know, especially if it turns out that he has cancer. He also said that he will not seek treatment if he has Stage 3 cancer.
Earlier, Roque said he did not know that Duterte went to the hospital Wednesday.
Roque had denied reports that Duterte visited the hospital when the Chief Executive skipped an event in Malacañang that he was supposed to attend Wednesday. (Argyll B. Geducos)
