PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr and his physician, Benedict Valdecañas, will have some explaining to do at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after the medical certificate presented by the camp of the former senator was questioned.
In a social media post, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she will ask the camp of Marcos and Valdecañas to explain details of Marcos’ supposed illness that prevented him from attending last Friday’s preliminary conference on his disqualification cases.
“I will order the doctor and Atty Vic Rodriguez to show cause or require his physician to have his medical certificate notarized,” said Guanzon.
“Now, I have to require the doctor, who examined Marcos Jr., to have his medical certificate notarized and indicate his medical license number,” she added.
Guanzon was referring to the medical certificate issued by Valdecañas and presented last Friday to the Comelec First Division.
In the certificate dated January 7, Valdecañas said Marcos is ill and thus unable to attend the Comelec proceedings. The certificate said Marcos is experiencing body malaise, febrile episodes, and difficulty in speaking due to a “painfully congested throat.” Upon examination on January 6, the doctor said, Marcos had a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius, while his throat was “hyperemic” and swollen.
Friday’s proceedings were delayed as Marcos’ lawyers were unable to immediately produce a medical certificate to justify his absence.
“Delay is due to the fact that Marcos Jr has no medical certificate to prove his reason for his absence. Hearing cannot begin. We are waiting for the medical certificate of Marcos Jr to prove he is not well, hence he is absent,” Guanzon said last Friday.
Marcos’ medical certificate was questioned after some netizens claimed Marcos was interviewed in a radio program on January 6, when he was already supposedly sick.
Rodriguez has confirmed that Marcos had a radio interview on January 6, but said he was already feeling unwell at the time.
“On the morning of January 7, BBM was obliged to go in isolation because his condition worsened,” said Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, the party-list group Akbayan which is one of the petitioners against Marcos, urged the Comelec to hold Marcos in contempt.
“He lied through his teeth. He deserves to be held in contempt. This is proof, yet again, that he is not qualified to run for public office. We urge the good officers of the Comelec to hold Marcos in contempt and have it reflect as a matter of record for future proceedings,” said Akbayan.
Amid the controversy surrounding the medical certificate, Guanzon urged the opposing camps to stop from making any further public statements on the case.
This as the disqualification case against Marcos is already up for resolution.
“I suggest all parties and lawyers should now shut up since their case is submitted for decision,” said the presiding commissioner of the Comelec First Division.
She said they expect the decision on the disqualification case against Marcos to be promulgated next week.
“After the raffle on Monday, a resolution of the First Division will be released around January 17,” said Guanzon.
