LUCENA CITY — Self-exiled communist party founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison asked President Rodrigo Duterte to just resign and yield his seat to Vice President Leni Robredo as his health has taken a beating from years of consuming fentanyl, a highly-addictive and deadly synthetic opioid taken as pain killer.

“It is better for him to resign and yield his office to his Vice President before he dies or continues to languish in bed with his joyful fentanyl,” said Sison following an announcement from Malacanang that Duterte was taking three days off to rest.

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Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the break, however, was not medical-related.

Sison, without citing the source of his information and not explaining how he knew, said Duterte’s use of fentanyl has “taken a toll on him physically and mentally.”

The President had admitted taking fentanyl, which had caused thousands of deaths in the United States because of its potency. It was believed to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Duterte had been taking fentanyl for recurring pain caused by a spinal injury suffered from a motorcycle accident in the past.

Sison, who had been one of Duterte’s teachers, said the President’s “long rests and small amount of work” had been “greatly detrimental to the people.”

Last October, Duterte suffered another motorcycle accident that caused him bruises and prompted him to cut short his visit to Japan because of “unbearable pain.”

Duterte had also revealed suffering from myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease. He also admitted having diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, a disease that thins the lining of the esophagus.

Duterte’s health has been a recurring issue in his presidency due to his advanced age. He is now 74.

But Malacañang maintained that there was no need to release a medical bulletin on Duterte’s health condition although it was required by the 1987 Constitution./TSB

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