Palace to comply with SC orders

MALACAÑANG will comply with the Supreme Court’s (SC) order for a comment following a lawsuit filed by the Duterte camp seeking President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s hair follicle test.

“If the Supreme Court orders that, we will carry it out, and we will make a comment,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino on Thursday.

She refused to discuss what the contents of the response would be.

On April 22, the High Court en banc ordered Mr. Marcos and Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto to respond within 10 days to a petition filed by former House Speaker and Duterte ally Pantaleon D. Alvarez and retired General Virgilio R. Garcia.

They filed the lawsuit following their observations of Mr. Marcos’ “slurring speech” and “apparent general weakness.”

The plaintiffs added that Mr. Marcos appeared “flustered and out of breath” after minimal physical activity.

The President earlier dismissed questions about his health, even jogging within Palace grounds with reporters to show his supposed healthy state. He also did jumping jacks and lifted a 10-kilo sack of rice to show his strength.

He said he has not visited the hospital in about 3 months or since his diverticulitis diagnosis in January.

He, however, takes maintenance for gout and hypertension.

In 2020, the High Court dismissed a petition for mandamus seeking the health records of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, ruling that allegations of serious illness were unsubstantiated.

The lawsuit did not compel Malacañang to answer.

The Justices said Mr. Duterte’s visibility in meetings and televised addresses showed he was actively performing his duties. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana