LAWYER Dino de Leon has asked the Supreme Court anew to reconsider its decision denying his plea for a “full disclosure” of President Duterte’s current state of health.
In a 10-page manifestation, de Leon said the Court should resolve to his favor the motion for reconsideration he filed last July 24 of the Court’s May 8 decision in light of various speculations, notably on social media, pertaining to the President’s health condition.
“The health of the President, especially at a time like this, should rightfully be disclosed to the public. After all, the enlightened minds behind the system of government the country have adopted originally envisioned an energetic [Chief] Executive essential for the protection of the community and the steady administration of laws,” he said.
The High Court, in its majority decision issued last May 8, held that the outright dismissal of de Leon’s petition is proper since on its face, the petition failed to raise arguments that would necessitate the granting of the mandamus petition.
De Leon cited rumors that a medical jet landed in Davao City last Tuesday and made an immediate return flight to Singapore, fueling speculations that a high-profile personality was aboard for treatment.
He noted that even before any person of public significance claimed that the President was indeed onboard the medical jet, Malacañang immediately issued a statement denying that the President left the country for Singapore to seek medical treatment.
Concerns about the President’s health, according to de Leon, was further fueled by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año’s disclosure that he was recently tested positive again for Covid-19.
“This again raised questions regarding the state of health of the President, as it was confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that the President was exposed to the virus when he personally met with Secretary Año just a few days before,” the motion read.
This was followed by Roque’s separate pronouncement that the President was under “perpetual isolation.”
Last Monday, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go also released a photo showing the Chief Executive in Davao sitting close to some members of the First Family and a video footage showing the President sitting beside him.
De Leon said the photograph belie Roque’s claim that no one could come near the President.
The lawyer described the appearance of the President in the picture to be “lethargic and edematous, with his right eyelid visibly drooping and contrary to Roque’s claims, the Presidential Security Group actually had to support the President while walking.”
De Leon said Duterte’s actual health condition should be made public to prevent it from further disrupting the attention of the people from the Covid-19 issues.
“With the health crisis plaguing the country, the focus of the people’s concern should be, among others, the nation’s collective response in confronting the increasing cases of Covid-19, the country’s losing battle against the virus, the fact that nearly half of our country’s labor force, around 45.5 percent have been jobless by the end of July 2020, and the worst recession in recent history,” de Leon argued.
At the very least, our people deserve to know if we have a leader who is still fit to lead the country, he added.
Image credits: Simeon Celi Jr./Malacañang Presidential Photographers Division via AP