MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has skipped a scheduled event because he wanted to take the day off, Malacañang said on Thursday, as it denied rumors that the Chief Executive was hospitalized for exhaustion.
Duterte was scheduled to lead the turnover of a check from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) on Wednesday afternoon but Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea took his place instead.
There was also a scheduled Cabinet meeting set to take place either Tuesday or Wednesday. However, it was moved to Monday, October 8.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte, who had an almost daily jam-packed schedule – including weekends – simply wanted to have “private time” for himself.
“He had a schedule almost every day. He did not really have a day off so the President decided to have private time. I myself would have wanted to see him in the Pagcor check turnover but he decided he wanted to take the day off,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.
“I assure you that I have no information that he did go to a hospital and I’m given information whenever things like this happen. I have inquired and I have my sources and he was just in his residence,” he added.
According to Roque, Duterte had a scheduled joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) command conference on Thursday, 4 p.m. and dinner with the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association on (PMAAAI) at 7 p.m. Both events are for close-in staff only.
Roque has provided the media with photos of Duterte during the command conference and dinner as proof that the President is in good health.
“Maraming wishful thinking diyan. Makarma sana yung nagwi-wishful thinking na magsakit yung Presidente. (There are many having wishful thoughts. I hope those who wish the President ill experience karma),” Roque said.
He, meanwhile, appealed to the public to “trust” that Duterte, being a lawyer, will conform with the Constitution if he has a serious health ailment.
“Please trust that if he has a serious ailment, the people will know. And of course, he’s a lawyer, he knows his constitutional obligation,” Roque said.
“If there’s a ground to release it he will but for the time being, let’s continue to treat medical records being confidential,” he added.
Earlier, the 73-year-old President himself admitted that he suffered from a spinal injury he sustained from a motorcycle incident years ago and bouts with migraine. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
