Lacierda: PNoy can’t comply with calls to quit smoking yet

While it is “thankful” to the Philippine Medical Association for its concern, Malacañang on Saturday said President Benigno Aquino III may not be able to comply with PMA's call for him to stop smoking and to rest eight hours a day. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino still resorts to smoking to drive away stress, and that the requirements of the president's job forbid him from getting full rest. “At a certain point he would want to quit [smoking] pero yan ay nakatatanggal ng kanyang stress.  Hayaan natin ang pangulo na maghanap ng paraan... at alam niya ano ang kailangan [sa kanyang trabaho],” he said on government-run dzRB radio. “Maraming salamat sa concern ng PMA... it would be taken under consideration,” he added. A report on The Philippine Star had quoted PMA vice president Leo Olarte urging Aquino to stop smoking, especially after the president missed some recent state functions due to health. Olarte had suggested that Aquino also exercise daily, eat a balanced diet, drink moderately and sleep at least eight hours a day. But Lacierda said Aquino’s missing a function while in Australia was due to pollen allergy, while his coughing at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Cambodia was due to influenza. On the other hand, he said Aquino cannot get an eight-hour sleep because of the demands of the job. “This president does not sleep eight hours a day unfortunately, because of demands of the office,” he said, adding Aquino even answers text messages at 2 a.m. Lacierda also said Health Secretary Enrique Ona had similarly advised Aquino to rest, but Aquino’s job cannot allow it. “Okay na sa kanya ... [ang] six hours na pahinga," Lacierda said. — LBG, GMA News