Lacson: Vice President should always be prepared to take over if...

Amid speculations regarding President Rodrigo Duterte's health, Senator Panfilo said the Vice President of the country should always be ready to take over in case something bad happens to a sitting Chief Executive.

In an online interview with reporters on Wednesday, Lacson said the health of an incumbent President is "the concern of the entire Filipino nation."

"Siya ang President eh. Kaya di maaalis ang speculation, pag-alala o sabihin na natin ang mga kontra baka nananalangin pa. So hindi maaalis 'yan. After all, Presidente siya ng Pilipinas so maski sabihing hindi serious, 'di pa rin matitigil," he said.

"Kailangan naka-ready ang Vice President to take over just in case something bad happens. So, yan ang alam kong situation. Kaya nga dapat ang health ng Pangulo laging binabantayan ng mga tao 'yan. Hindi unusual na maraming nag-speculate sa health ng isang Pangulo whether here or anywhere else," he added.

The incumbent Vice President, Leni Robredo, is from the opposition. Her criticisms regarding the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic recently drew the ire of the President. Duterte told her to  "stop adding fuel to the fire."

Earlier this week, Duterte mentioned that his doctor told him to stop drinking because his Barrett’s esophagus is nearing stage one cancer.

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus is replaced by tissues similar to the lining of the intestine.

On Wednesday, several senators wished Duterte good health amid talks of Barrett's esophagus. 

Duterte not incapacitated

Lacson, nevertheless, said it is not necessary for Duterte to yield his post as long as he is not incapacitated by his health condition.

"'Yan lang naman ang pupwedeng magpaalis sa Pangulo as far as health is concerned, 'yung di na siya maka-perform ng kaniyang duty kasi incapacitated siya," he said.

"I remember during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos when he underwent carotid operation, Vice President [Joseph] Estrada, I was with him, was summoned by the National Security Adviser at the time while undergoing carotid surgery [si Fidel Ramos]," he added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang clarified that Duterte was talking about "a medical advice that happened many years ago, even prior to the presidency."

The President is "fit and healthy for a person his age," his spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Revolutionary government

Asked if he thinks Duterte's health condition is the reason behind some supporters' call for a revolutionary government, Lacson said: "They can pursue all they want pero papatulan ba natin, alam naman natin na mali?"

"Parang naging comedy nga eh. Kasi [Defense] Secretary [Delfin] Lorenzana, CPNP [Archie] Gamboa, wala ngang pumatol eh. Tayo pa ba papatol, eh ang security cluster walang papatol? he added.

Duterte has denied having any hand on the call for a revolutionary government.

"Wala akong pakialam diyan, wala akong kilala na mga tao na 'yan at hindi ko 'yan trabaho," the President said. — Dona Magsino/RSJ, GMA News