More Pinoys worried about Duterte's health —SWS

At least 66 percent of Filipinos are worried about President Rodrigo Duterte's health, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed Wednesday.

The Fourth Quarter 2018 survey conducted from December 16-19, 2018 found 66 percent of Filipino adults saying they are worried (22 percent worried a great deal and 44 percent somewhat worried) and 34 percent saying they are not worried (16% are somewhat not worried and 18% are not worried at all) about the President's health.

This showed an 11-point increase from the 55% Filipinos who expressed worry  about Duterte's health in the September 2018 poll.

The December survey also found that 49% believe (17% strongly believe and 32% somewhat believe), and 24% do not believe (11% somewhat not believe and 13% strongly not believe), that the President currently has health problems. Twenty-seven percent are undecided about the matter.

The proportion of those worried about Duterte's health was highest in Mindanao at 73%, followed by Metro Manila at 66%, the Visayas at 66%, and Balance Luzon at 63%.

The belief that the chief executive has health problems is stronger in Metro Manila, urban areas, and upper classes.

The December 2018 SWS poll used face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults aged 18 years old and above nationwide broken down to 360 individuals each in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The margin of error is at ±2.6 percent for national percentages and ±5 percent for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The surveys were non-commissioned.

On October 4, 2018, President Duterte revealed that he was admitted to Cardinal Santos Medical Center for some tests.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea later clarified that the President was in the hospital for a yearly endoscopy and colonoscopy.

Dr. Rustico Jimenez of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines described endoscopy as a procedure wherein a tube is being inserted thru the patient's mouth or nose down to esophagus to determine if the patient is afflicted with infection, ulcer or cancer.

Colonoscopy, on the other hand, is done by inserting the tube in the rectum for closer examination of the intestines.

On October 8, 2018, the President said that his tests turned out negative and he can even drink his heart out to prove it.

“Puede tayo mag-inuman ngayon. Totoo. I can give you a run for your money,” Duterte said then in an interview at the sidelines of the oathtaking of the new officers of the Malacañang Press Corps.

On October 18, 2018, he also made an explanation on the apparent pigmentation on his face, which he said looked like an effect of a kidney problem or brain cancer.  He clarified this was just caused by his use of his partner Honeylet's facial cream.

“Nasunog ito[ng] mukha ko. Buti na lang napunta ako sa derma na, she is very good. Kasi ang ginamit ko kasi, sa asawa ko. Sabi niya,cream lang yan, may 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 [ay] sabunan mo, 2, mahapdi na, 3 ,4, 5 tapos meron pa ang maliit. Sabi ko,  put_ng_na, bakit nangitim ako lalo?,” Duterte said.—LDF/NB, GMA News