Andronico Del Rosario
Japan’s longest-serving prime minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation on live TV.
Abe, 65, cited his long battle with ulcerative colitis as the reason for his resignation. His resignation signals an early race for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership a year before he officially ended his term in September 2021.
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. These develop over time and can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications.
Filipinos, of course, were quick to react once news of Abe’s resignation reached news outlets.
The world is changing. https://t.co/KxnD2KoRnx
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) August 28, 2020
When one has the nation’s best interest at heart, one does not selfishly cling to power. https://t.co/dzITmElray
— bituin escalante (@gobituin) August 28, 2020
Some have likened Abe’s transparency with his health to our own President Rodrigo Duterte—though his resignation isn’t in sight.
https://twitter.com/nickvillavecer/status/1299214509546979330
https://twitter.com/ness_fajardo/status/1299266427044507649
Buti si Prime Minister Abe MARUNONG mahiya samantalang si DUTERTE mamatay na kapit tuko pa rin sa posisyon😖
— ERICK (@ErickF676) August 28, 2020
The 75-year-old Duterte finally came clean and said his Barrett’s esophagus is nearing stage 1 esophageal cancer. Sen. Bong Go, however, reiterated that the president is still “as strong as a carabao”.
According to Mayo Clinic, Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the flat pink lining of the swallowing tube that connects the mouth to the stomach (esophagus) becomes damaged by acid reflux, which causes the lining to thicken and become red.
