MALACAÑANG assured the public that President Arroyo is healthier and stronger than most of her critics who are questioning her real state of health.
“I can say without fear of contradiction that the President is healthier and stronger than most of her detractors,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a press briefing.
Bunye, who is also the presidential spokesman, said some of Arroyo’s Cabinet members find it difficult to keep pace with her. He said the President even calls a Cabinet meeting immediately upon arrival from a hectic foreign trip.
United Opposition (UNO) secretary general and House Minority Leader Francis Escudero has said it is time for Malacañang to disclose the real health condition of the President.
Senate President Franklin Drilon echoed Escudero’s call.
Some quarters are questioning why Arroyo’s main attending physician, Dr. Juliet Cervantes, is a gastroenterologist who specializes in treating liver cancer.
Arroyo left the St. Luke’s Medical Center at 9:30 a.m. Monday after undergoing an executive checkup over the weekend. She and First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo checked into the hospital Saturday morning.
Doctors told the President to exercise more, lower her carbohydrate intake, and reduce her weight by about two kilograms, after she tipped in at 54 kilograms.
President Arroyo was allowed to leave the hospital Sunday afternoon but she decided to stay until Monday morning to accompany her husband, who had to undergo additional tests.
She walked out of the hospital lobby accompanied by Cervantes and her husband She waved to the crowd before boarding her car.
She proceeded to the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Malate for the Second Tribuna España-Filipinas Forum, where she called for stronger relations between the Philippines and Spain, even as she thanked the Spanish Government for giving the most assistance among the European Union countries.
Bunye tried to quash rumors that the President is suffering from a liver ailment allegedly because of a drinking problem. He refused to give details on the President’s checkup, saying the medical bulletin issued by St. Luke’s is enough and that the hospital has policies regarding patients’ records.
“Nothing is more authoritative than the medical bulletin,” he said.
He said the constitutional provision requiring the disclosure of the President’s health is only for “serious ailments or disability.”
“We don’t have to be a doctor for us to determine that our President is energetic. She is very healthy,” he said.
As to why a liver specialist is attending to the President, Bunye said he does not know about the arrangement or choice of doctors.
He said when he was having his executive checkup, his attending physician was a heart specialist. “It’s just that we are comfortable with her (Cervantes) as attending physician,” he said.
He said he will provide President Arroyo’s detractors with dictionaries so they could distinguish the difference between an “alcoholic” and a “workaholic.”
He said there is nothing wrong if the President gained a little weight because a slower metabolism comes with age.
President Arroyo is turning 60 on April 5.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a radio interview that President Arroyo is not bound to have any trouble handling the defense portfolio in a concurrent capacity starting Dec. 1. The resignation of Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. will take effect on Nov. 30.
Ermita said the President also took over as defense secretary when Angelo Reyes (now environment secretary) resigned in 2003 so she will not be burdened by the extra job. (Sunnex)
