Duterte claims journalist Ellen Tordesillas has cancer

President Rodrigo Duterte claimed on Saturday that veteran journalist Ellen Tordesillas of VERA Files has cancer.

In his interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Sonshine Media Network, Duterte alleged that Tordesillas has been soliciting financial help because of her condition.

"Tagal na ‘yan sige pang hingi-hingi kasi may sakit daw siya cancer. Hanggang ngayon, buhay pa rin," the President said.

"Yan si [Tordesillas?], Hesus, sige lang hingi kay may cancer siya. Hanggang ngayon buhay pa. Lord, ano ba ang desisyon mo diyan?”

Duterte then called on the audience to pray for the veteran journalist.

"So maybe tonight, we can pray together to pray for ano. Para hindi na maghingi... Pray for her recovery. Sige kasi lang ‘yan hingi. Tapos walang recovery,” he said.

The President, in jest, said he has his "own prayer" for Tordesillas.

"I am sure, all of you will pray for her to get well. I will also pray but I have my own prayer," he said.

Tordesillas, along with other journalists and media outfits, was implicated by the President in the so-called ouster matrix and plot to discredit the Duterte administration and boost the candidacies of opposition senatorial bets.

Sought for her reaction, Tordesillas told GMA News Online that while she once had cancer, she had long been cured of it. She said she was "shocked" (nagugulantang) by Duterte's statements on her health.

Tordesillas said she never asked for financial assistance from anyone while she was undergoing treatment. She said her former publisher, the late Jake Macasaet, once gave her assistance.

She also said two senators, without her asking their help, extended their assistance by shouldering her hospital room expense at Philippine General Hospital (PGH), charged to the lawmakers' respective Priority Development Assistance Fund.

"Walang cash na binigay sa akin. May dalawang politico na nagpadala ng cash sa akin. Ibinigay ko ang pera sa PGH Medical Foundation na tumutulong sa mga mahihirap na pasyente sa PGH. Ipinadala ko sa kanila ang resibo," she said.

"Palagi ko sinasama sa aking dasal ang kapakanan ng ating bayan na sana katotohanan ang mananaig sa isip ng bawat isa sa atin kasama na si Pangulong Duterte," she added.

Not too long ago, Duterte was on the other end of speculations on his health. Former Senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad had several times made speculations on the President's health, claiming in 2017 that he visited a cancer hospital in China and earlier this year that he underwent kidney surgery in January.

Duterte clapped back and claimed Tatad has diabetes and questioned the latter’s virility. —Ted Cordero/MDM, GMA News