BY MARIO CASAYURAN
Although President Duterte is still as strong as a carabao, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called on all Filipinos to be more considerate when it comes to the health status of the chief executive.
The health status of President Duterte was a hot topic for days when he claimed last Monday that his doctor told him to stop drinking liquor because his Barrett’s Esophagus was “nearing stage one cancer”
“Mahigit dalawang dekada kong kasama si Pangulong Duterte at alam ko ang estado ng kanyang kalusugan. Inaalagaan ng mabuti ng Pangulo ang kanyang sarili. Wala po siyang iniindang sakit na seryoso at hindi natin kailangang mag-alala. Mas malakas pa sa kalabaw ang Pangulo kung magtrabaho para sa kapakanan ng lahat ng mga Pilipino,” Go said.
Go, a former Special Assistant to President Duterte, said people should consider that the President’s age.
“Who is a 76-year-old person who does not have illnesses?” he asked.
That is exactly the reason why the Presidential Security Group and his doctors are extra tight so that he would not have any serious illness, particularly during the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Health experts themselves say that senior citizens are the most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, said that while the President wants to see and be with the citizenry because this has been his habit, he could not do these because there are many restrictions.
“Kilala ko si Tatay Digong. Meron s’yang ugali na ipapasa-Diyos na lang ang lahat, lalo na pagdating sa kanyang sariling kapakanan. Parati n’yang sinasabi na ‘Kung panahon mo na, panahon mo na. It is all according to God’s will’,” he pointed out.
“Having known the President for a long time, I know how much he loves to serve and he is willing to die for his country,” he stressed.
“Huwag natin sayangin ang oras natin sa pagkalat ng pangamba lalo na’t may Pangulo tayong nasa maayos naman ang estado ng kalusugan at ginagawa ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya para ipaglaban ang interes, buhay at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipinong pinagsisilbihan niya,” he added. (Mario Casayuran)
