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Philippines' Duterte Vows to Resign if He Has Cancer – Reports

© AP Photo / Aaron FavilaPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte attends a command conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operations center in metropolitan Manila, Philippines. File photo
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attends a command conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operations center in metropolitan Manila, Philippines. File photo - Sputnik International
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The Philippine President has acknowledged that he was recently hospitalized due to Barrett's esophagus, an inflammation of the tube linking the mouth to the stomach.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has promised that he would step down if he has any serious illness, including cancer, according to Bloomberg.

Speaking to graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, the 73-year-old acknowledged that he is waiting for the results of the tests to get to "know where I am now physically."

"But I would tell you that — if it's cancer, it's cancer. And if it's third stage, no more treatment. I will not prolong my agony in this office or anywhere," Duterte underscored.

READ MORE: Duterte Says 'There'll Be More Rape Cases as Long Women Are Beautiful'

He acknowledged that going to a hospital for digestive tract tests after his esophagus became inflamed.

Duterte also admitted suffering from daily migraines and spinal problems issues, in addition to Buerger's disease, an illness which affects the blood vessels and is caused by smoking.

READ MORE: Kiss Me Hard Before You Go: Duterte Says Ready to Step Down if Women Want It

Embattled Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno addresses students of St. Scholastica's College, a Roman Catholic school, during a forum on International Women's Day in Manila, Philippines. Wednesday, March 7, 2018. Sereno, who filed an indefinite leave starting March 1 to prepare for her impending impeachment trial, called on Filipinos Wednesday to stand up against authoritarianism and threats to human rights in an indirect criticism of the country's volatile leader, who has long called for her removal. - Sputnik International
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Separately, he pointed out that incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo is "very good" and "gentle" but that she is "strategically weak" as a fit for the presidency.

The Philippine constitution stipulates that the country's president should disclose any serious illness to the public, and that the leader should be replaced by the vice president after resigning. Duterte's six-year term is slated to wrap up in 2022.

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