SC JUNKS MOTION

Petition to disclose health records meant to distract Duterte —Roque

Malacañang on Friday questioned the motive behind the petition that sought to compel the government to disclose President Rodrigo Duterte’s medical records.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition which, according to presidential spokesperson, Harry Roque lacked “legal and factual bases.”

“We believe it is designed to distract the President from his job and erode the confidence of the Filipinos to President Duterte’s leadership particularly in this time when we are confronted with an extreme health crisis,” he said.

Lawyer Dino De Leon, who filed the petition, argued that his request for Duterte's health records was in line with the public's right to be informed of matters that affect them. He claimed that Duterte's several medical conditions provided a "reasonable basis to be worried about the health of the President."

Malacañang, however, is against releasing any medical bulletin of the 75-year-old President, arguing the Constitution only requires disclosure in case of serious illness.

“Moving forward, President Duterte continues to attend to the affairs of the State as he monitors developments in the country, particularly the COVID-19 situation, and gives instructions to his Cabinet members on various efforts to fight this global health scare,” Roque said. —Virgil Lopez/LBG, GMA News