Too much information?

The buzz started last night with a Manila Bulletin article on the President checking into the Asian Hospital in Alabang for some cosmetic procedures. Take a look at a screencap of the article as it appeared from last night to about 1 pm today; and see Jessica Zafra’s opinion that it’s a hoax. However, the story hasn’t been taken down, though slightly modified, and can still be seen on the Manila Bulletin website: see GMA medical checkup OK. In the Inquirer, officialdom expressed shock, shock, at the news of breast implants, etc. for the President:

“What? Silicon implants? That’s the first time I heard about that,” Secretary Gabriel Claudio said in a phone interview.

“No way; I just heard that from you. I thought you were joking.”

Claudio said that he had “absolutely no information” about Ms Arroyo’s breast implant replacement, adding he was not even aware that she had an implant in the first place.

In his column today, Jarius Bondoc elaborates further:

The President has been suffering dysfunctional bleeding, likely due to polyps or myoma in the uterus. She had first walked into the hospital one dawn in 2008 for D&C (dilation and curettage) and left at dusk. News then was that she had an executive check. She’s had three follow-ups this year, the last in June. Menopause is inducing abnormal tissue growth and hormonal imbalance, a source said.

Wednesday dawn Arroyo checked in again — for less serious causes. She needed mammoplastic repair of leaking breast implants done in the ’80s. Occasion too to have doctors take out an inguinal cyst (in the groin), and laser off extra hair growth in that area and the armpits. Though a bit groggy, Arroyo was set to check out yesterday afternoon.

Too much information? The Marocharim Experiment seems to think so.

Article VII, Section 12 of the Constitution directs that

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 President during such illness.

Previous to this, there was much speculation on the condition of the President’s liver, and the causes of her fluctuating weight; one UP student even claimed photographic evidence that President had cosmetic surgery on her nose.

The presidency is the sort of job that can wreck the health of even the most phenomenally-endowed with stamina; and it is entirely due to the manner in which politics was affected by the deteriorating health of President Marcos, that we have the constitutional provision on public information on the chief executive’s health.

The real question then is what constitutes “serious,” in terms of a president’s health.

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10 Responses to “Too much information?”

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1. 10
   joquer Says:
   August 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm

   The health of any President is of the utmost concern to the general public. In essence, the President by virtue of their job title, has no right of privacy regarding medical procedures/health. The public pays the President’s salary, elected the President, so they have a vested interest/right to know “everything” regarding the health of the President.

2. 9
   Eterio Says:
   August 1st, 2009 at 5:04 am

   too much information but no one notices them, thats the real meaning of too much information lingering in the shores of our native land. Nobody notice that Jueteng was the real cause of problem that brought down a legally elected President Erap with a majority of eleven million real poor peoples votes. as what Senator Enrile said, He was amazed of how this man attracts a million followers.

3. 8
   Dane Abcede Says:
   July 22nd, 2009 at 6:54 am

   Who cares? Everyone knows Arroyo’s a big boob anyway.

4. 7
   Eterio Says:
   July 11th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

   Yes, the world has too much information even for a country like philippines that specifically mention the late President Marcos has lupos and the former first lady had just celebrated her lavish 80 year old Birthday Bash, while the peoples power President Cory is still struggling with her Bowel Cancer struggle, hoping that God would honestly heal her along with President GMAs health.

5. 6
   elesito tampus Says:
   July 11th, 2009 at 9:22 am

   for me it doesn`t matter if the information on gmas health is true or not. what matters to me is for her to make good of all her promises to make the life of our poor filipino people better.that people around her who had violated the laws should be punished. that those who will tell the truth like jun lozada should not be prosecuted. gma must remember that everything has an end and GOD is watching us. gma was given the chance to serve the filipino people. for that she should do her duty without discremination. we only pass this earth ones and gma is not exempted, kaya pagbutihin na niya ang kanyang gagawin ngayon.

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