President Rodrigo Duterte, just like anybody else, is entitled to time alone

President Rodrigo Duterte, just like anybody else, is entitled to time alone.

That’s the take of former President Joseph Estrada, now mayor of Manila, on the recent absence of President Duterte from official functions.

Reacting to all sorts of speculation after Mr. Duterte disappeared from public view for about a week, Estrada said he understood the difficult situation the President was facing, particularly the monthlong siege of Marawi city by Islamic State-allied terrorists.

The speculation was fueled by a Malacañang press office that had clammed up amid demands by opposition politicians, notably archcritic Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on drug charges.

“Let’s give him the privilege of being alone for a while. It’s hard to be President, that’s not the only country’s problem,” Estrada said, referring to the siege of Marawi.

“I’ve been there and he just needed to rest,” he told reporters at the weekend.

Physical, mental stress

Estrada cited his own experience when he waged an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2000 that he said had caused him physical and mental stress.

“I don’t like giving excuses now, but I really had a hard time sleeping when I learned that many of my soldiers were dying,” said the Manila mayor.

De Lima and other senators have called for “transparency and accountability” from Malacañang to inform the public of the truth on Mr. Duterte’s health condition.

The detained senator cited the Section 12 of Article VII of the Constitution, which stated that the public must be informed of the President’s health in case of serious illness.

The rumors about the President’s health swirled when he missed the Independence Day celebration in Rizal Park, where Vice President Leni Robredo and Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano appeared in his stead.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/906693/duterte-needs-time-alone-says-ex-president-estrada#ixzz4kFTDalfS