President Rodrigo Duterte had a “simple misstep” that caused him to lose balance during the Independence Day rites in Bulacan, the Palace said on Monday.
The 76-year-old president almost fell while stepping on a podium in Malolos on June 12. Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana helped Duterte regain his balance.
On Monday, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said there was nothing to worry about Duterte’s brief slip, saying the president was healthy.
Duterte’s health has been a hot topic since he became president.
In August last year, Duterte bared in a public address that he was advised to stop drinking as his Barrett’s esophagus was nearing stage one cancer.
In 2019, he suffered a hip injury after he fell off a motorcycle.
Duterte has admitted to having Buerger’s disease, a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs.
He also has myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles responsible for movement.
Duterte moreover suffers from chronic back pains and migraines.
The Constitution requires the president to be transparent to the public on his health status.
Section 12 of Article VII reads: “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. John Ezekiel J. Hirro