President Benigno S Aquino III with throat cancer? Palace should release medical records of President

Pnoy sick with throat cancer?

Last Friday, news spread about President Benigno S Aquino III is sick with throat cancer. When I first heard it, I checked whether this is already in the news (meaning, confirmed) or any other person knows about it. It seems that several people heard it.

Since I cannot confirm if this is true because even if the president is indeed sick with throat cancer, surely, because of national security, the palace will think twice of pronouncing or announcing it thru the media. However, I came across this provision in the 1987 Constitution which states:

Section 12. In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health. The members of the Cabinet in charge of national security and foreign relations and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall not be denied access to the Presdident during such illness" (Section 12, Article 7, 1987 Constitution)

Is throat cancer a serious illness? Yes. The Mayo clinic describes throat cancer as referring to the  cancerous tumors that develop in your throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils. Symptoms include:

• A cough
• Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Ear pain
• A lump or sore that doesn't heal
• A sore throat
• Weight loss

Everyone noticed that the President is coughing more often now. He likewise speaks in a hoarse voice in several occasions and look how frail the President was, when he addressed the Nation last July 28. His barong tagalog is somewhat slightly bigger than his built. Of course, we will never know if Pnoy has a sore throat or a lump that does not heal.

Is this what Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda referred to as "death threat" against the President? Or Lacierda is referring to another person? If yes, then, who is this person who threatened the president with death? Surely, that person thinks that he is equally as powerful and as influential as the president? And why was the death threat given? Was it because of a business deal gone sour? or the death threat emanated from groups out to oust him?

Surely, the palace is describing not a coup, since a coup is not a "death threat", far from it.

Malacanang has the duty of releasing Pnoy's medical records to allay these fears and put down rumors that the President is sick.

For one, the Aquinos has a history of their blood relatives dying of cancer, with the president's mother, Cory, for one. Cory died of colon cancer. Her sickness was announced just a few months before her death.

Is throat cancer curable? Yes, if treated at an early stage, throat cancers can either be cured through surgery or radiation treatment. Recurrence of this illness is a certainty.

I appeal to Malacanan to release the latest medical records of the President to assuage fears that he is sick or dying due to a serious illness. They owe it to their "bosses."