A lawyer has asked the Supreme Court to compel PH Pres Rodrigo Duterte to disclose within 7 days his latest medical and psychological/psychiatric exam results, health bulletins and other health records since he assumed office. 
"Do we still have a physically and mentally healthy President? Is he still the one making decisions to manage and put an end to the current crisis?," lawyer Dino de Leon asks in his Extremely Urgent Petition for Mandamus, citing the people's right to know.
De Leon cites PRRD's "pallid condition" in his latest appearances, calling his statements "incoherent, unresponsive, and filled with unintelligible rumblings." He claims PRRD seems to be physically unwell, his statements resemble those of a "drunken monologue."
De Leon: As country continues to battle disastrous and multidimensional impact of #COVID19 pandemic, there is arguably no other more appropriate time than today to assure Filipino People that their Chief Exec...is unquestionably capable to manage developing and post-crisis sitns.
A mandamus petition compels a tribunal, corporation, board, officer or person to perform a duty unlawfully neglected.
Named as respondents to the petition are President Duterte himself and the Office of the President thru Exec Sec Salvador Medialdea.
Named as respondents to the petition are President Duterte himself and the Office of the President thru Exec Sec Salvador Medialdea.
De Leon listed 21 occasions when PRRD begged off at the last minute and 5 periods of prolonged absences from public view ranging from 5-7 days.
Saying he was "deeply worried" about PRRD's health, De Leon says he filed freedom of info request w/ OP but was denied.
Saying he was "deeply worried" about PRRD's health, De Leon says he filed freedom of info request w/ OP but was denied.
The mandamus petition is anchored on section 12, Art. VII of the 1987 Constitution requiring the President to inform the public of the state if his health in case of serious illness.
De Leon argues PRRD's previously disclosed illnesses are "serious."
De Leon argues PRRD's previously disclosed illnesses are "serious."
According to De Leon, PRRD previously said he has Myasthenia Gravis, Buerger's Disease, GERD, Barrett's Esophagus aside from "spinal issues" and "daily migraines" plus "antisocial personality disorder" and "narcissistic personality disorder."
De Leon also claims PRRD might have "arteriovenous fistula" as shown by an abnormally large bulging vein on his left arm. AV fistual, he says, could either be congenital or acquired thru complications in cardiac catherization or surgical creation for hemodialysis.
De Leon uses PRRD's previous admission of taking Fentanyl against him, saying a common side effect of Fentanyl is "unusual thinking": "Thus, a person taking Fentanyl would have a hard time maintaining clear thought and lucidity."
To justify resort to a mandamus petition, De Leon says that given the gravity of the illnesses openly acknowledged by PRRD, the public release of his medical bulletins becomes a "ministerial duty" upon request from any concerned citizen. Mandamus can only compel ministerial task.
