Let’s stand as witnesses with how is he is masterfully handling foreign relations, Philippine politics and economic issues, while enjoying high trust and approval ratings.

The general public was initially baffled with the strange peculiar device worn as a necklace by President Rodrigo Duterte when he met with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in Malacañang last Thursday. What some thought was a fashion statement, translator/hearing instrument, or a modern-day anting-anting turned out to be an air purifier, worn to fend off airborne pollutants and provide the President with cleaner and healthier air within the proximity of his breathing space. Called an AirTamer, it is a portable air purifier meant to be a necklace, chargeable via USB, emits no sound, and is extremely light. Wise businessmen should be buying these in bulk at this moment to make a killing in local sales.

To all the crabs pulling the President down, all it takes is a purifier necklace, something you definitely see every day in Manila — as the saying goes “Wala ito sa bundok natin.” We can imagine President Duterte wearing his air purifier necklace wherever he goes and magically he is protected from harm. He was probably even wearing it while he was riding his big motorbike in the Malacañang Palace grounds, along with his leather jacket, and even when he fell off his bike. It was probably also the reason why he suffered very minor injuries; it is the answer to all of the DDS’ prayers for his good health and fitness for the job — of course, we are exaggerating.

Kidding aside, the truth of the matter is that the President is miles away from any serious illness as contemplated in the law. The 1987 Constitution provides, in Article VII, Section 12, as follows: “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health. The members of the Cabinet in charge of national security and foreign relations and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall not be denied access to the President during such illness.”

The Palace has been transparent with the President’s medical condition and checkups since 2016. Of course, not everything will be revealed to the public as communications between doctor and patient are privileged and confidential. The President deserves a certain amount of privacy for his and his family’s own safety and well-being. He has been open about his bouts with migraines, having Buerger’s disease from smoking and quick trips to the hospitals. The public is informed about his endoscopy procedure and ocular myasthenia that are not hindrances from leading this nation.

Evidently, some people are banking on the horrendous possibility that the worst happens to the President while in office. This will result with our troubled Vice President assuming the presidency, but unfortunately for the Robredo camp, this will not happen. The Office of the VP should be busy fighting off the protest of former senator Bongbong Marcos, instead of hoping for the demise of President Duterte.

What the public should know is that the President thrives in having a punishing schedule and in making the toughest decisions. He is a master in handling stress and he is able to relax and let go so freely. Come to any dinner function where the President is a guest and it is a certainty that he will sing a couple of songs to let off some steam. It is proven that singing is therapeutic as it relieves stress, has the same effect with exercise, since it brings in more oxygen to your body, and releases endorphins to make one instantaneously joyous and happy.

The President is healthy enough to carry on his duties until the end of his term. In the following days, watch him appoint the next Philippine National Police chief who will continue his crusade in crushing drugs, and the 26th Chief Justice of the Philippines who will decide on the most important cases that include the protest of Marcos against Robredo passed on by CJ Lucas Bersamin.

Let’s stand as witnesses with how is he is masterfully handling foreign relations, Philippine politics and economic issues, while enjoying high trust and approval ratings. The President has more people to prove wrong, more corrupt government officials to fire, and more drug pushers to eradicate.

Come to think of it, President Duterte is the Philippines’ purifier — he is all our country needs to fend off drugs, corruption, mediocrity and poverty. May he live for more than a hundred years old.