MANILA – Veteran journalist Ellen Tordesillas belied the allegations of President Rodrigo Duterte that she was asking money from politicians to finance her cancer treatment.
Tordesillas, the president of fact-check media outfit Vera Files, said two senators helped her by crediting her hospital bills at the Philippine General Hospital to their priority development assistance fund (PDAF).
“May dalawang senador na kahit hindi ako humingi, sumulat sa Philippine General Hospital, kung saan ako nagpapagamot, at nagsabi i-credit sa kanilang PDAF ang aking bill sa kwarto. Walang cash na binigay sa akin,” Tordesillas said.
“May dalawang politiko na nagpadala ng cash sa akin. Ibinigay ko ang pera sa PGH Medical Foundation na tumutulong sa mga mahihirap na pasyente sa PGH. Ipinadala ko sa dalawang politiko ang resibo,” she added.
Duterte on Saturday alleged Tordesillas was asking monetary help from some politicians way before for her cancer treatment.
“Tagal na ‘yan sige pang hingi-hingi kasi may sakit daw siya cancer. Hanggang ngayon, buhay pa rin. So maybe tonight, we can pray together to pray for ano…para hindi na maghingi,” Duterte said.
“Diyan sa media, ‘yung sa matrix, ‘yung sa matrix puro bayad ‘yan, maniwala kayo. Hesus, sige lang hingi kay may cancer siya. Hanggang ngayon buhay pa. Lord, ano ba ang desisyon mo diyan?” he added.
Tordesillas, who was tagged by Malacañang as among those allegedly plotting to oust Duterte, said she was shocked upon hearing the latest allegations of the President against her, saying she has long been free of cancer.
“Palagi ko sinasama sa aking dasal ang kapakanan ng ating bayan, na sana katotohanan ang mananaig sa isip ng bawat isa sa atin kasama na si Pangulong Duterte,” said Tordesillas. /PN
