Duterte threatens to slap ex-senator Tatad for speculating about his health

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday lashed out at former senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad for making speculations about his health.

Speaking at the proclamation rally of PDP-Laban senatorial bets in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, Duterte castigated Tatad for spreading rumors that he had a kidney transplant.

“There’s a border between press freedom and pag-babastos ng tao. Pag una kitang makita, iwasan mo ako. P—ina, sampalin kita,” Duterte said.

The President then claimed Tatad has diabetes and questioned the latter’s virility, saying that he should "lend" the President his wife.

"Ikaw 'yung may diabetes, kaya ikaw 'yung hindi na pwede mag ganun," he said, hitting the microphone several times.

"‘Yan ang violation talaga ng press freedom. Pero hindi dahil galit ako ka…‘Yang kantiyaw mo parang bastos na," he added.

"Gusto mo talagang subukan kung meron pa kami o wala? May asawa ka? Ipahiram mo sa akin," he said.

In early 2017, Tatad speculated that Duterte went to a cancer hospital in China to seek treatment, prompting the President to deny that he is afflicted by the disease.

The 73-year-old leader previously revealed that he has Buerger's disease, a condition that causes constriction of the blood vessels due to nicotine, and Barrett's esophagus, a disease involving the tissue in the esophagus.

He had also admitted to having a misaligned spine as result of a motorcycle accident years ago.

Results of a recent Social Weather Stations poll found that 66 percent of Filipinos were worried about Duterte's health.

Conducted in December last year, the survey results also showed that 49 percent of the respondents believed Duterte has health problems.

The Palace, however, chose to interpret the survey results as positive, saying that “an overwhelming number of Filipinos” are praying for Duterte’s good health, his well-being and for the President to finish his term in 2022. — BM, GMA News