Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday that recent cancer tests came back negative, just days after sparking speculation when he revealed doctors were checking him for the disease. Duterte, 73, has regularly prompted theorizing about his health by skipping events or discussing his ailments in public since taking power in 2016.

“It’s negative. They (doctors) had a suspicion so they had this specimen taken out from both the oesophageal tube and here,” he said, pointing to his butt. “They just wanted a retake. Nothing serious actually,” he told reporters.

The most recent speculation started after he said in a speech late Thursday that he was undergoing tests on his doctor’s orders, adding “if it’s cancer, it’s cancer.” Duterte is the oldest person ever to be elected president of the country and questions about his health began to swirl in Philippine media after he missed an October 3 cabinet meeting and another public event. —AFP