Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison denied Monday President Duterte鈥檚 claim that he had colon cancer and instead dared the President to reveal his health condition to the Filipino people.
鈥淚t 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,鈥� Sison said in a statement sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday night.
Last month, Duterte was not seen in public for several days and had no official engagements, sparking speculation that he was seriously ill.
But Malaca帽ang said he was 鈥渏ust resting.鈥澛燭he President also dismissed rumors that he was sick, saying he only stayed in bed.
Sison, who is in exile in The Netherlands, said Duterte鈥檚 claim that he was sick was 鈥渁 blatant lie鈥�.
He admitted that early this year he was confined for a month in the Rheumatology Department of the Utrecht University Medical Center. However, he was released with a clean bill of health on聽March 20聽after three weeks of diagnosis and treatment and a week of medical observation.
He said he was treated 鈥渋n 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.鈥�
鈥淣o findings of cancer of any kind, cardiac problem or any other malignancy which is life threatening,鈥� he said.
Sison reiterated that his age or physical condition was not a public issue.
鈥淒uterte himself is an old man at 72. I am only six years older than him. So what is the public issue?鈥� he said.
According to Sison, he is physically and mentally strong and 鈥渢rying hard as NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) chief political consultant鈥� to help in the peace negotiation, 鈥渨hich had been scuttled by Duterte.鈥� CBB