President Duterte's health is public concern — Joma Sison

The physical and mental health condition of President Rodrigo Duterte is a matter of public interest and public concern, said Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria "Joma" Sison in a statement.

"With or without my prodding, he should present to the public his medical record in response to public demand," he added.

Sison cited Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, who said that Duterte's trip to Israel was for health reasons.

"Perhaps, It would be good if the Israeli doctors can fix his weak spine, which  constantly pains him so much and which keeps him weak, frequently resting and figuratively comatose," Sison said.

"Duterte may not be literally comatose but certainly he is figuratively comatose because he does not do much work except to blabber between his rest periods," he added.

The communist leader said that he wants Duterte to be in good health, but he disclosed this was to face accusations against him.

"I reiterate my fervent wish for Duterte to keep himself alive so that ultimately he can be served a warrant of arrest for inciting mass murder, guaranteeing presidential protection and impunity to his death squads and giving them rewards at public expense," said Sison.

"The aberrant mind of Duterte is manifested by his open incitation to mass murder  and by his notion that he has the license to invent my medical condition while he strains to conceal his real physical and mental condition and refuses to show his medical record to the public," he added.

Sison also challenged Duterte to reveal the true state of his health, and he would respond by presenting his own medical certificate.

Duterte, meanwhile, mocked Alejano and said he can have his stomach, chest, and brain opened. He said he will visit Israel and Jordan to check on the welfare of thousands of overseas Filipino workers as he expressed concern over the security situation there.

Malacañang also denied Alejano's claim and dismissed the President's ailments as "typical of people of his age."

Duterte had previously claimed that Sison was intentionally fed exaggerated, wrong information about his health, adding that the communist leader "played into his hands."

The President also said that it was Sison who was sick and was abusing the privileges allegedly given to him by The Netherlands where he is seeking asylum as a political refugee since 1987. —With Rie Takumi/BAP/KG, GMA News