‘Duterte alive and well’

> Govt tries to reassure Filipinos amid health rumours

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is alive, well and experiencing no health problems, the government said yesterday, amid concerns about his disappearance from the public eye for unusually long periods this month.

Known for a busy schedule and lengthy speeches often several times a day, the 72year-old Duterte’s low profile has fuelled rumours he is in declining health and that the government is trying to keep that under wraps. He was last seen in public a week ago.

What has created most intrigue is Duterte’s absence during what is the biggest crisis of his year-old presidency, as the military battles for a sixth week to defeat Islamic State-linked rebels currently occupying the city of Marawi on his home island of Mindanao.

“First and foremost, he is alive and well, he is very well, he’s just busy doing what he needs to do,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters.

“As you’ve seen he’s been very much in the public eye but being out of the public eye, that is when he is able to do office work, he signs papers, he reads, he consults, he’s actually very busy.

“The thing that is very important to note is that he is on top of every situation, he is aware of what’s happening, he’s updated regularly, he reads, he listens and he’s quite aware. This is just his working style.”

Duterte’s absences this month represent the longest periods he has been out of the spotlight. He was last seen on June 20 in two cities close to the violence-torn Marawi, visiting soldiers and evacuees.

That followed a three-day absence after a speech in which he said his health was “immaterial”, amid raised eyebrows about his failure to appear in public for Independence Day on June 12.

Duterte’s known ailments include back problems, migraines due to nerve damage after a motorcycle accident and Barrett’s oesophagus, which impacts his throat. He also suffers from Buerger’s disease, caused by his heavy smoking in younger days.

His closest aide, Christopher “Bong” Go, on June 15 posted images on social media of Duterte signing documents and standing in front of a television showing a news bulletin, adding further fuel to rumours that something was wrong.

Presidential communications secretary Martin Andanar told DZMM radio Filipinos should not be concerned.

“The public should not worry. Our president is healthy.” – Reuters