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Duterte opens up about health issues after campaign


Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the highly demanding campaign season took a toll on his health.

A report by Ian Cruz on GMA-7’s “24 Oras” on Monday said that getting back in the pink of health was one of the reasons why Duterte stayed out of public eye after May 9.

“I just came out about three days earlier. I had a long rest, and all along during the campaign, I was carrying this virus in me that causes my bronchial infection at nag-resume ako antibiotics for about five days bago ako pinayagan ng doctor na lumabas,” he said.

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Duterte's friend and spiritual advisor, revealed in a press briefing that the Davao City Mayor almost collapsed once during the campaign.

“In fact, si Mayor napaka-busy, 24 hours, na-collapse na nga halos may isang beses,” he said.

Despite these, Duterte teased reporters about the state of his health.

“May cancer ako. Oo, may sakit ako. Nagkaroon ako ng appendicitis. Then, iyong throat ko nag-ano. Then, I found out that stage four iyong cancer ko. Sinasabi ko na sa inyo. Iyong lungs ko wala nang pumapasok na hangin. Iyong ano ko, ayaw na talaga,” he said, drawing laughs from the people around him.

In the first week of the campaign, Duterte was forced to skip a speaking engagement in Ortigas due to migraine, which was triggered by fatigue and sleeplessness.

The day after, Duterte admitted that he was rushed to the hospital after the migraine attack.

The 71-year-old had previously admitted that he has Buerger’s disease and Barrett’s esophagus.

Despite the health issues, Duterte has been free to eat what he wanted. On early Sunday morning, reporters saw Duterte eating kinilaw na kambing, pinapaitan, lechong kawali, and fried bananas. Later that day, he helped himself to some durian.

Duterte, however, always makes sure he always has at least eight hours of sleep. --Trisha Macas/JST, GMA News

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