(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte had to undergo follow-up tests on Wednesday, Oct. 3, after a possible “growth” was seen in his digestive tract based on results of initial tests, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday, Oct. 5.
According to Roque, based on Duterte’s report in a general staff command conference on Thursday, Oct. 4, he underwent the follow-up endoscopy at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
Duterte said in a speech before Philippine Military Academy alumni later on Thursday that he spent an hour in the hospital in San Juan, prompting him to miss the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. event in Malacanang also slated on that day.
“And I think endoscopy was recommended from (Duterte’s) own words ha…because they wanted just to be sure that there was a growth, and they wanted to know more about the growth,” Roque said.
“Beyond what he has said, he is entitled to privacy in this matter. I do not know if I am still here next week, then I will tell perhaps we need to issue a medical bulletin, whether or not, it’s serious,” Roque added.
Roque, however, gave the assurance the President was not gravely ill.
“Pero ang sabi naman niya kahapon, ‘name a 73-year-old na walang karamdaman.’ So kung meron man siyang karamdaman, he thinks it’s not out of the ordinary,” Roque said.
