Panelo insists Duterte not seriously ill as SC junks health records plea

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court decision which junked a petition that sought to compel Malacañang to disclose President Rodrigo Duterte's medical records.

In his commentary program aired on state-run PTV, Panelo said the petition filed by lawyer Dino de Leon had no basis since Duterte was not suffering from a serious illness.

“Napakaliwanag naman po kasi na wala siyang malubhang sakit,” the Palace official said.

“Sabi ko nga kapag tinatanong po ako ‘Kumusta ang Presidente?’ Aba’y ‘pag nagmumura pa ang Presidente malusog ‘yan. ‘Pag hindi na nagmura ‘yan baka may sakit na ‘yan.”

He also urged people to pray that the 75-year-old President remained in good health instead of filing frivolous petitions before the courts.

Duterte previously revealed that he had 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.

The President also admitted to having a misaligned spine as a result of a motorcycle accident years ago and that he was suffering from myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness.

Malacañang, however, had resisted releasing any medical bulletin on the President, arguing the Constitution only required such disclosures in case of serious illness. — DVM, GMA News