Gloria is healthier than critics, says Palace – Malaya 11.28.2006
BY REGINA BENGCO
MALACAÑANG yesterday tried to turn the tables on President Arroyo’s critics who are questioning her "real" state of health by saying that Arroyo is healthier and stronger than most of them.
"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.
Some quarters are asking why Arroyo’s main attending physician, Dr. Juliet Cervantes, is a gastroenterologist who specializes in treating liver cancer.
Bunye said he did not know about the arrangement or choice of doctors.
He said when he was having his executive check-up, his attending physician was a heart specialist. "It’s just that we are comfortable with her as attending physician," he said.
Bunye said he will provide Arroyo’s detractors with dictionaries so they could distinguish the difference between an "alcoholic" and a "workaholic."
Bunye said some of Arroyo’s Cabinet members find it difficult to keep pace with her. He said the President, who returned to the Palace yesterday morning after a weekend stay at the hospital, calls a Cabinet meeting immediately upon arrival from a hectic foreign trip.
House minority leader Francis Escudero, secretary general of the United Opposition, on Sunday said it is time for Malacañang to disclose the real health condition of the President.
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson chided his peers, saying the opposition should leave the President’s health to herself. He said her health should be treated as a political "non-issue."
"Maselang topic ang health ng tao. Pagdating sa kalusugan, umiiral ang pagiging Kristiyano ng tao. Sana maayos ang kalusugan niya," he said.
He also said Malacañang is not obligated to disclose the real health condition of the President.
But Senate President Manuel Villar and Sen. Franklin Drilon said the public has the right to know the real health condition of the President.
Villar said nevertheless there was no reason to doubt her physician’s statements that Arroyo is in good health.
Drilon said: "The President is not an ordinary citizen. The affairs of the country would depend upon the state of the President’s health."
It was the third time in five months that Arroyo was confined in the same hospital.
Last June, the President was taken to St. Luke’s hospital for "acute infectious diarrhea." A month later, she was confined in the same hospital for "influenza."
Arroyo left the St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City around 9:30 a.m. yesterday after undergoing an executive check-up over the weekend. She and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo checked into the hospital Saturday morning.
Physicians 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. She was allowed to leave the hospital Sunday afternoon but she decided to stay until Monday morning to keep her husband, who had to undergo additional tests, company.
Arroyo walked out of the hospital lobby accompanied by Cervantes and Mr. Arroyo. She waved at the crowd before boarding her car.
She proceeded to the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Malate for the 2nd Tribuna España-Filipinas Forum, where she called for stronger relations between the Philippines and Spain. She thanked the Spanish government for giving the most assistance among the European Union countries.
She then visited Barangay 843 in Pandacan, where the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority gave away 100 scholarships worth P10,000 each on welding, butchering, and call center training.
During an informal interaction with residents, she snacked on a hamburger and a bottle of lemon-flavored green tea. She returned to Malacañang afterward.
Bunye tried to quash rumors that the President is suffering from a liver ailment allegedly because of a drinking problem.
He refused to give the details on the President’s check-up, saying the medical bulletin issued by St. Luke’s was 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."
"Hindi naman siguro kailangang maging doctor tayo para makita natin na ang ating Pangulo ay aktibong aktibo. She is very healthy at regular iyong kanyang sarili na minamantini," he said.
Bunye said there is nothing wrong if the President gained a little weight because slower metabolism comes with age. He said she will just have to control her diet. Arroyo is turning 60 on April 5.
Lacson said the President should not be made to pay for her "debts" to the Filipino people by making her suffer because of her health.
Instead of "salivating" over the President’s deteriorating physical condition, he said, members of the opposition should pray for her speedy recovery. – With Dennis Gadil
MALACAÑANG yesterday tried to turn the tables on President Arroyo’s critics who are questioning her "real" state of health by saying that Arroyo is healthier and stronger than most of them.
"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.
Some quarters are asking why Arroyo’s main attending physician, Dr. Juliet Cervantes, is a gastroenterologist who specializes in treating liver cancer.
Bunye said he did not know about the arrangement or choice of doctors.
He said when he was having his executive check-up, his attending physician was a heart specialist. "It’s just that we are comfortable with her as attending physician," he said.
Bunye said he will provide Arroyo’s detractors with dictionaries so they could distinguish the difference between an "alcoholic" and a "workaholic."
Bunye said some of Arroyo’s Cabinet members find it difficult to keep pace with her. He said the President, who returned to the Palace yesterday morning after a weekend stay at the hospital, calls a Cabinet meeting immediately upon arrival from a hectic foreign trip.
House minority leader Francis Escudero, secretary general of the United Opposition, on Sunday said it is time for Malacañang to disclose the real health condition of the President.
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson chided his peers, saying the opposition should leave the President’s health to herself. He said her health should be treated as a political "non-issue."
"Maselang topic ang health ng tao. Pagdating sa kalusugan, umiiral ang pagiging Kristiyano ng tao. Sana maayos ang kalusugan niya," he said.
He also said Malacañang is not obligated to disclose the real health condition of the President.
But Senate President Manuel Villar and Sen. Franklin Drilon said the public has the right to know the real health condition of the President.
Villar said nevertheless there was no reason to doubt her physician’s statements that Arroyo is in good health.
Drilon said: "The President is not an ordinary citizen. The affairs of the country would depend upon the state of the President’s health."
It was the third time in five months that Arroyo was confined in the same hospital.
Last June, the President was taken to St. Luke’s hospital for "acute infectious diarrhea." A month later, she was confined in the same hospital for "influenza."
Arroyo left the St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City around 9:30 a.m. yesterday after undergoing an executive check-up over the weekend. She and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo checked into the hospital Saturday morning.
Physicians 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. She was allowed to leave the hospital Sunday afternoon but she decided to stay until Monday morning to keep her husband, who had to undergo additional tests, company.
Arroyo walked out of the hospital lobby accompanied by Cervantes and Mr. Arroyo. She waved at the crowd before boarding her car.
She proceeded to the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Malate for the 2nd Tribuna España-Filipinas Forum, where she called for stronger relations between the Philippines and Spain. She thanked the Spanish government for giving the most assistance among the European Union countries.
She then visited Barangay 843 in Pandacan, where the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority gave away 100 scholarships worth P10,000 each on welding, butchering, and call center training.
During an informal interaction with residents, she snacked on a hamburger and a bottle of lemon-flavored green tea. She returned to Malacañang afterward.
Bunye tried to quash rumors that the President is suffering from a liver ailment allegedly because of a drinking problem.
He refused to give the details on the President’s check-up, saying the medical bulletin issued by St. Luke’s was 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."
"Hindi naman siguro kailangang maging doctor tayo para makita natin na ang ating Pangulo ay aktibong aktibo. She is very healthy at regular iyong kanyang sarili na minamantini," he said.
Bunye said there is nothing wrong if the President gained a little weight because slower metabolism comes with age. He said she will just have to control her diet. Arroyo is turning 60 on April 5.
Lacson said the President should not be made to pay for her "debts" to the Filipino people by making her suffer because of her health.
Instead of "salivating" over the President’s deteriorating physical condition, he said, members of the opposition should pray for her speedy recovery. – With Dennis Gadil
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