Senator Richard Gordon backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to keep his medical condition “private and confidential” unless it is serious.

Also citing a provision in the 1987 Constitution, Gordon said the President is only mandated to inform the public about his health condition in case of serious illness.

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“He should reveal his condition (but) for as long as he is okay, walang problema (no problem). Pero ‘pag medyo serious (But if somewhat serious), there is an portion in the Constitution I think that he has to reveal his condition, and if he does not reveal it then he is in good order,” Gordon told reporters on Wednesday in an interview following a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the right-of-way fund scam.

Section 12, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution states that if the President has serious illness, the “public shall be informed of the state of his health.”

Gordon explained that serious health conditions include “life-threatening” situations that may cause “inability to perform the President’s job.”

The senator then shrugged off reports that Duterte has illness, noting that his mental and physical conditions are fine.

“Well, I can see that he can perform his job. His mental condition is okay and his physical condition seems to be okay, I have met with him. I don’t think he has illness,” he said.

Duterte said his health condition was not for “public consumption” and revealed that he was negative for cancer. /kga

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