A group of concerned citizens has belittled the recent video of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. performing jumps inside Malacañang Palace, as rumors continue to circulate on his alleged ill state.
“Dancing is not proof of good health,” the group said in a statement as it called the move a “publicity stunt” that only stoked fears that the Marcos administration is hiding the true state of the President’s health.
“The Filipino people deserve a leader who is physically and mentally capable of guiding the Philippines through to an economic recovery that addresses the issue of poverty and bring back trust to the country’s leadership,” the group said in the statement issued Thursday, April 16.
The group, which included former House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez; retired Army Brigadier General Atty. Virgilio Garcia; media specialist Ray L. Junia; and eco-political writer John Raña, the last two consumer advocates, have filed a Petition for Mandamus before the Supreme Court Wednesday, April 15, to compel the disclosure of Marcos’ physical and mental health records.
The group also urged the high court to compel the President to undergo a hair follicle drug test and disclose the results to the public.
The move comes a day after a similar Petition for Mandamus was filed by the United Peoples’ Initiative (UPI), which was led by Retired Major General Romeo Poquiz.
Citing Article VII, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution, the petitioners said the petition “is grounded on constitutional principles of public accountability, the people’s right to information, and the requirement that the President must at all times be capable of performing the functions of his office.”
Hospitalized?
The group also pointed out to recent developments, behavioral observations, and public discourse throwing doubts on Marcos’ overall fitness to exercise his duties.
The most recent allegations involve the President being hospitalized for serious but undisclosed health conditions a few weeks ago.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acting Secretary Dave Gomez had called such allegations “a sudden and coordinated surge” of fake news and added that "the President will not be distracted by this noise."
Marcos himself branded allegations of his hospitalization as “lies,” as video footage showed him performing a dance inside the Malacañang Palace Complex last April 13.
“I challenge anyone who are saying that I am sick, that they come and exercise with me. We will see who is stronger,” he was quoted as saying.
Credible
However, citing statements made by the President’s own sister Senator Imee Marcos, the petitioners believe these allegations “constitute credible and material indicators that may trigger the constitutional requirement of disclosure in cases of serious illness.”
Last November, the President's sister disclosed in a public speech that not only the President but also First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, and their son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, had drug-addiction issues.
“Bata pa lang kami ni Bongbong, alam na ng buong pamilya na ang problema sa kanya. Sa totoo lang, mababasa naman ng lahat ang testimonya ng aking ama patungkol sa kanyang ugali at gawain,” she said.
The Petition for Mandamus also comes amid complaints of the national government’s slow response to the impacts of the oil crisis brought by the war in the Middle East.
Despite the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency last March 24, the Marcos administration has been hesitant in pursuing policies to lower gas prices, including the suspension of excise and value-added taxes on petroleum products.
“Under these circumstances, it is imperative that the public be assured that all executive decisions, directives, and pronouncements genuinely emanate from a President who is mentally sound, physically capable, and exercising independent judgment,” the petitioners stressed.
“Any reasonable doubt as to the President’s capacity undermines public trust, weakens democratic institutions, and poses a serious risk to national stability.”
Right to know
In a separate statement, the petitioners argued that the public has the right to know about the state of Marcos' health, given the current crisis facing the country.
"Knowing the truth on the President’s health could not be more important today, considering observations the country is drifting to bankruptcy owing to several factors, more important of which is experts’ observations on his incapability to lead," they stressed.
The petitioners also belied claims that partisan politics played a role in this latest petition, emphasizing that it is borne out of "a genuine belief that the public must know the truth behind the allegations of the President’s ill health
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