By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he did not entertain rumors about President Duterte being comatose as he believes that the Chief Executive will live long.
Trillanes, on Tuesday, likened anew Duterte to a "weed," saying he will not die soon.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"Ako naniniwala na si Duterte, masamang damo 'yan. Matagal mamamatay 'yan (I believe that Duterte is like a weed, he will not die easily)," he said in an interview during the commemoration of the 35th death anniversary of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
Instead, Trillanes claimed that the rumors on Duterte being in state of coma came from the Palace itself, alleging that it was one of their "gimmicks."
"For all you know, the rumors about such coma came from them...I think it was their gimmick, that's why I did not react to that," he said.
The public, he added, "should not fall for" claims about the President supposed deteriorating health.
Trillanes said more than Duterte's mental health should be looked into "more than his physical health."
"Naniniwala ako na, base sa mga polisiya at pananalita niya, ito, may tama sa utak, eh (I believe that, based on his policies and statements, he has a mental health problem)," he said.
In a television interview Tuesday, Sen. Koko Pimentel said the Palace should not release a medical bulletin to respond to rumors about the President's health.
"Malacañang should not be pressured to release medical bulletins as a reaction to each and every question , especially if its baseless," he said.
The release of medical bulletin based on claims, he, said, would only enocourage "deceptive" releases about the President's well-being.
Anyway, he said the Palace is duty-bound to inform the public should President Duterte is indeed diagnosed with a serious illness by a doctor. "It will eventually come out it he is really sick," he said, repeating that Duterte is "very healthy."
Appearing on Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go's live Facebook video Monday night, President Duterte himself had denied being in a state of coma as earlier claimed by communist leader Jose Maria Sison.
Prior to this, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated that the Palace will not release a medical bulletin as he maintained that Duterte is not sick.
On Monday also, Senate President Vicente Sotto III called Sison's claims "fake news," saying the rebel leader created it due to his "miserable" life.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"Ako naniniwala na si Duterte, masamang damo 'yan. Matagal mamamatay 'yan (I believe that Duterte is like a weed, he will not die easily)," he said in an interview during the commemoration of the 35th death anniversary of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
Instead, Trillanes claimed that the rumors on Duterte being in state of coma came from the Palace itself, alleging that it was one of their "gimmicks."
"For all you know, the rumors about such coma came from them...I think it was their gimmick, that's why I did not react to that," he said.
The public, he added, "should not fall for" claims about the President supposed deteriorating health.
Trillanes said more than Duterte's mental health should be looked into "more than his physical health."
"Naniniwala ako na, base sa mga polisiya at pananalita niya, ito, may tama sa utak, eh (I believe that, based on his policies and statements, he has a mental health problem)," he said.
In a television interview Tuesday, Sen. Koko Pimentel said the Palace should not release a medical bulletin to respond to rumors about the President's health.
"Malacañang should not be pressured to release medical bulletins as a reaction to each and every question , especially if its baseless," he said.
The release of medical bulletin based on claims, he, said, would only enocourage "deceptive" releases about the President's well-being.
Anyway, he said the Palace is duty-bound to inform the public should President Duterte is indeed diagnosed with a serious illness by a doctor. "It will eventually come out it he is really sick," he said, repeating that Duterte is "very healthy."
Appearing on Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go's live Facebook video Monday night, President Duterte himself had denied being in a state of coma as earlier claimed by communist leader Jose Maria Sison.
Prior to this, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated that the Palace will not release a medical bulletin as he maintained that Duterte is not sick.
On Monday also, Senate President Vicente Sotto III called Sison's claims "fake news," saying the rebel leader created it due to his "miserable" life.