Duterte hits Tatad for claiming he had kidney transplant

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan — President Rodrigo Duterte Thursday lambasted former Sen. Francisco Tatad for claiming that he underwent a kidney transplant recently. 

Tatad wrote in a newspaper column this week that the president had a "successful" kidney transplant last January 29. 

Citing an unnamed source, the former senator said the procedure was conducted at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan.

He said another source claimed the transplant was performed in Davao City. 

READ: More Filipinos worried over Duterte's health — SWS

Duterte claimed Tatad had disrespected him when he wrote about the supposed kidney transplant. 

"There is a border between press freedom and disrespecting a person. If you see me, avoid me. I will slap you," the president said during the kickoff of the PDP-Laban campaign here. 

Duterte said Tatad's column was a "violation of press freedom." 

He also claimed that Tatad has diabetes and hinted that the former senator is no longer capable of having sex. 

"Gusto mo subukin kung meron pa? May asawa ka? Pahiram mo sa akin (You want to know if I can still do it? Do you have a wife? Lend her to me)," the president said.

READ: Duterte mocks those who spread rumors he is dead 

It was not the first time Tatad wrote about Duterte's medical condition. In 2017, Tatad said he received reports that Duterte had traveled to China to meet with doctors of the Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou.

Duterte responded by joking that he went to China to undergo circumcision. He had also called Tatad an “idiot” and “ gago” (fool) who is using his column to redeem himself from negative views about his role during Martial Law.