President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night revealed that his Barret’s esophagus ailment is nearing stage one cancer.

Duterte made the revelation in his talk to the people held in Davao City Monday night but aired Tuesday morning as he presided over a meeting with several Cabinet members about recent developments on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and the government’s response.

According to the chief executive, he was advised by his doctor not to drink as this will further aggravate his Barret’s esophagus ailment, leading to cancer.

No other details were given by the president on the matter.

Duterte made the remark even as he vouched for the integrity of the members of his Cabinet amid allegations of corruption in the handling of the people’s money as part of the government’s response to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic through the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

“Kaya kung may pera, Bayanihan, whether it’s part of one or two, I will make sure as long as I have these guys here with me in the team, ‘yung (the) Task Force, ‘yung pera ninyo (your money) I have no doubt that they will not allow corruption,” Duterte said.

“Matagal na kami sa gobyerno, magpa-retire na lang, bakit pa namin pagsayangan? Kakaunting panahon na lang ang naiwan so walang — walang — walang ganang — wala nang ganang kumain. May pera ka naman, hindi ka na makakain kay sabi ng doktor huwag kang kumain ng taba kasi mamatay ka. Ikaw Duterte, huwag ka nang uminom kasi ‘yang Barrett mo nearing stage one ka sa cancer. So hindi na rin,” he added.

(We have been in government for so long, we’re nearing retirement, why would we waste it? We only have a short amount of time – we have no appetite. You have money but you can’t eat because the doctor said don’t eat fat because you will die. You Duterte, don’t drink because your Barrett is nearing stage one cancer. So I won’t).

Duterte admitted in October of last year that he has Myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular condition which affects his eye muscles, but managed to downplay it as one of his talents.

“May talent ako, magtingin ako sa’yo, ‘yung isang mata ko bumaba. Kita mo maliit ‘yung isa, tingnan mo. O ‘diba maliit? (I have a talent. I can look at you with my other eyes looking down. Look at it. See? My other eye is smaller?),” Duterte said during a meeting with the Filipino community in Moscow on Saturday, shortly before he left for home.

“Actually that’s Myasthenia gravis. It’s a nerve malfunction. I got it from my—exactly from my grandfather … So, I believe really in genetics. Kung anong sa kanya, nakuha ko eh (I got it from him),” he added.

The autoimmune disease causes weakness in the skeletal muscles. It can be life-threatening when the respiratory muscles are severely affected.

The President previously revealed having various medical conditions, including frequent migraine attacks and Buerger’s disease, which affects the veins and arteries of the limbs. (Daily Tribune)