Duterte in the pink of health – Andanar

After President Duterte kept himself away from the public eye for six straight days, a palace official assured yesterday that the President is in the pink of health and that the nation has nothing to worry about him.

“Ang Pangulo po natin ay (Our President is) in the pink of health; siya po ay malusog (he is healthy). Siya po ay may kakayanan na mamuno ng bansa natin so wala pong dapat ikabahala ang ating mga kababayan (He is capable of leading the country so there is nothing to worry about),” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said over Brigada News FM.

Duterte had no public engagement since June 21, a day after he visited an evacuation center in Iligan City and checked the condition of wounded soldiers in Cagayan de Oro.

Prior the six-day break, Duterte also took a five-day private time from June 12 to 16 to go to an undisclosed location in Mindanao and also to take some rest as he admitted that his hectic schedule took a toll on his body.

“I went on a trip somewhere. I cannot divulge it. I had to go there incognito. ‘Yun ang totoo (That’s the truth),” Duterte admitted last week. “Confidential but I said I traveled like a private citizen para lang maka-abot doon sa gusto kong puntahan. ‘Yun lang (to get to the place I want to go to. That’s it),” he added.

According to the Palace, Duterte is expected to resume his official activities as he is expected to lead the Eid’l Fitr Celebration at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace tonight.

Malacañang has consistently denied that Duterte is suffering from any serious health condition and has appealed to the public to give the President enough time to rest following his hectic schedule since declaring martial law in Mindanao on May 23 due to the attacks in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur by the Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired Maute group.