MANILA, Philippines — Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison denied President Rodrigo Duterte's allegations that he has a colon cancer.
"This is a blatant lie," Sison said as he reacted to Duterte's claim in his State of the Nation Address before a joint session of Congress on Monday.
Sison explained in a statement that he was indeed hospitalized for a month at the Utrecht University Medical Center. However, he was released with a clean bill of health on March 20, after three weeks of diagnosis, treatment and observation.
"I was treated in connection with rheumatoid arthritis and skin allergy for the following symptoms: low auto-immunity level during the cold months of autumn and winter, lack of appetite, loss of weight, skin allergy, pains on the joints, etc.," Sison said.
"No findings of cancer of any kind, cardiac problem or any other malignancy which is life threatening," he added.
On Monday, Duterte said in his nationally televised address that the 78-year-old Sison, his former professor at the Lyceum of the Philippines, is suffering from deadly ailment.
"Matanda na ito. Sison is sick. May colon cancer," the president said.
Sison then responded to the president's statement saying there is no public issue about his age, since Duterte is himself 72 years old. At his age he, like Duterte, is still physically and mentally strong, Sison said.
'Duterte should explain health condition'
Instead of questioning his health condition, Sison asked Duterte to reveal his health condition to Filipinos.
"It is Duterte who has to explain his disappearances for medical reasons because the public is entitled to know everything that pertains to his suitability for public office," the communist leader said.
Duterte recently lashed out at Sison and threatened to kill him for calling him a bully. He also said he will no longer talk to members of left-wing groups, calling the activity a waste of time.
“I believe you, Mr. Sison. You are right. We stop talking. We’re wasting our time,” Duterte said.
“This war that you are fighting, I was listening to you when I was a student. That was 50 years ago. Let us renew the fighting for another 50 years. If it’s what you want,” the president said, addressing Sison.
Duterte last year renewed the peace talks with the CPP and its political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Recently, however, Duterte ordered that the talks be canceled after supposed CCP-linked New People's Army rebels ambushed a convoy of presidential security personnel.
"Mga g***, pati 'yung convoy ko, ambushin. Hindi nila alam na nakasibat na ako (Those bastards would even attack my convoy. They didn't know I was able to dart)," Duterte said on Monday.