MANILA, Philippines — More than a week after rumors circulated that he is sick, President Duterte disclosed yesterday that his doctor advised him to stop drinking as his Barrett’s esophagus is nearing stage one cancer.
The United States’ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases defines Barrett’s esophagus as a condition wherein the tissues lining the esophagus are replaced with or have turned into tissues similar to the lining of the intestine.
People with Barrett’s esophagus are more likely to develop a rare type of cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma, according to the institute.
In a taped address aired yesterday, Duterte said he and other officials would not allow corruption because they are about to retire from the service.
He said accumulating huge sums is useless if one is no longer allowed to eat all kinds of food due to health reasons.
“We have been in the government for a long time and we are about to retire. Why would we squander it? We only have a little time left. We no longer have appetite to eat,” Dutere said. He talked about the warning that his doctor gave him.
“You have money but you can’t eat what you want because the doctor told you, do not eat fatty foods or you will die,” he said.
“Duterte, do not drink because your Barrett is nearing stage one cancer,” Duterte said quoting his doctor.
Earlier this month, rumors circulated that Duterte was sick and had been airlifted to Singapore to seek emergency treatment.
The President denied this, saying he was just in Davao City to hide from coronavirus. He insisted that it’s no one’s business if he decides to travel to another country.
Malacañang said Duterte has been staying in his hometown since Aug. 3 and that said he did not stop working.
The President, who earlier admitted to suffering from various illnesses, said he and his officials would perform their duties so they could confidently face God in the afterlife.
“If we face God and He asks us, ‘Rodrigo, what did you do?,’ I would tell Him ‘I did what I could but Dominguez did not have the money. That’s true.’ ‘But where’s the money?.’ ‘He borrowed money but nobody wanted to lend him),” Duterte said.
Aside from Barrett’s esophagus, the President is also afflicted with acute bronchitis, a migraine tied to a spinal injury he sustained in a motorcycle accident, Buerger’s disease, and muscle spasms.
In May, the Supreme Court junked a petition requiring disclosure of Duterte’s health records.
The high court said allegations that the President was seriously ill were unsubstantiated.