[ad_1]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) – President Rodrigo Duterte expressed “great regret” for the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whom he has considered “a true friend closer than a brother.”
Duterte had nothing but kind words for Abe, who resigned Friday for health reasons.
“Throughout the many years of our commitment, I have seen a leader with a bold vision and a strong determination to do what is best for his country and our region,” Duterte said in a statement Saturday.
Duterte noted that bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan “flourished” into a strategic partnership during Abe’s tenure.
He fondly recalled Abe’s visit to his Davao City home in 2017. Abe met Duterte again in his hometown in 2019, while the Philippine president also flew to Japan for the third and fourth time that year.
“To Prime Minister Abe, I pray for his speedy and full recovery,” said Duterte, who has been pressured to reveal his medical history amid mounting concerns about his health.
Malacañang recently shrugged off Duterte’s revelation that Barrett’s disease of the esophagus was “approaching” stage one cancer. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said it was an old diagnosis, while Duterte announced in 2018 that his biopsy was negative for cancer.
Malacañang maintains that the 75-year-old president is “fit and healthy” for his age and will not hesitate to inform the public about the state of his health in case of serious illness, as mandated by the Constitution.
Abe, the longest-serving Japanese prime minister in history, resigned after two visits to the hospital this week. He apologized to his constituents for being unable to fulfill his duties due to colitis, a non-curable inflammatory bowel disease.
“For almost eight years I managed my chronic disease, however this year in June I had a regular checkup and there was a sign of the disease,” Abe said.
“I decided that I should not continue my work as prime minister … I need to fight the disease and be treated,” he added.
With reports from CNN International
[ad_2]
