President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay program held at the Patio Milagros Minitel and Resort in Dimasalang, Masbate on January 9, 2019. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Rumors being spread about his health were part of efforts of his critics to discredit him, President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday.

The Chief Executive called out the Liberal Party (LP) for making a big issue about his health as a means to smear him.

“They can’t think of anything else, whatever that was. The yellows, you are being spewed out by the people. You talk too much,” Mr. Duterte exclaimed when he attended the launching of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay in Masbate.

Prior to this, the President said the “yellow brigade” should just accept reality that they are no longer in power. He added they should just accept defeat and “lick their wounds.”

He also blasted Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison for previously claiming he lapsed into a coma due to complications stemming from colon cancer.

Communist Party of the Philippines founder and chairman Jose Maria Sison “They thought that my kidney had failed and that I have a cancer. They said there was a form of growth… There is none here at my front — and in the back. In my rear, they said there’s blood but sometimes when I arrive home, I look at it. Sometimes when I relieve myself, the liquid that comes out is yellow,” the President said in jest.

This was not the first time he slammed the LP – and Sison – for supposedly “concocting” issues to overthrow him from power.

In September last year, Mr. Duterte accused the LP and communists of conniving with the Magdalo Group and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one of his most vocal critics, of scheming to oust him from Malacañang.

“Can you see, it’s kinda wet. Is it true? (But) my feces is all yellow. You yellows — the public doesn’t like you at all. You’re already coming out of my butt, but you still keep whining,” Mr. Duterte said.

Mr. Duterte added leftist activists were out to destroy the government.

“You human rights (activists), f*ck you. One drug addict died and you keep on whining about it everywhere. You don’t know how many Filipinos have been victimized (by that person).

We’re from different worlds. You’re crying (with your) bleeding hearts. ‘He died.’ So? How many people did that person kill?”

He also said some addicts commit crimes, with some of them ending up robbing homes and raping those who live in them.

He added: “I’ve never heard of them (talk about these crimes committed by drug addicts).

Those human rights are enemies of the government. You want to destroy the government. That’s ok if what you’re saying is true, but you should also talk about the innocent people who were killed by these criminals.

He also said activists should focus their attention on those who have become slaves to methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

“And talk about Filipinos who have become slaves. They are slaves to a drug called shabu.

They need it every day and at the end of the day they become inutile,” Mr. Duterte said.

Malacañang, nonetheless, reassured the public that there is no cause for worry about the well-being of the President, particularly following the results of a survey which showed more Filipinos are worrying about his health.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made this remark after a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted on 16 to 19 December 2018 showing that 66 percent of Filipinos were worried about the President’s health, an increase of 11 percent from September 2018’s 55 percent.

NEWS | Palace: No cause for worry on #PresidentDuterte's health

NEWS | Palace: No cause for worry on #PresidentDuterte's health

Posted by PTV on Thursday, 10 January 2019

“A grateful President assures the nation that there is no cause for worry as he is in a fine state of health, and his punishing schedule of activities in attending and responding to the needs of the citizenry is proof of his good physical condition,” Panelo said in a statement.

“Even as he performs his constitutional duties, he shall endeavor to always watch over his health,” he added.

The official emphasized that the President “remains in robust health for the sake of the country and the people.”

“His body language, his actions, his activities all negate the fear that this man is sick or nearing death or he is incapable of continuing,” Panelo said at a Palace briefing.