President Duterte seemed to have made another joke about his health anew, saying he might have cancer after he coughed during a speech on Thursday.
In his speech in Tacloban City, Leyte, Duterte coughed in the middle of his speech and said what he was experiencing might be karma.
"Progressive, baka cancer na ang p***** i** (It's progressive, maybe it's cancer already)," he said.
"Nakarma na doon sa (It's karma for)—" he added, not finishing his sentence.
In August 2020, President Duterte revealed that he was advised by his doctor to stop drinking because his Barrett’s esophagus ailment was nearing Stage I cancer.
Malacañang explained that the assessment was made before Duterte became president and assured the public that there was nothing to worry about.
In October 2019, President Duterte was invited to witness the enthronement of Japanese Emperor Akihito but had to cut his trip short due to "unbearable pain" after figuring in a minor motorcycle incident days prior to his overseas trip.
In a meeting with members of the Filipino community in Moscow, Russia in October 2019, Duterte revealed that he was suffering from “myasthenia gravis,” a disease that causes muscle weakness.
President Duterte also had a cancer scare in October 2018 after he revealed that doctors found a growth in his body during an endoscopy. It was later on revealed as not cancerous.
In an interview with CNN Philippines in November 2019, the President admitted that he was not as healthy as he used to be. However, he said his health issues will not hinder him from performing his duties as president.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque has repeatedly said that President Duterte will follow the Constitution and inform the public if he is seriously ill.