President says he was in HK to buy larger-size clothes, not for medical checkup
President Duterte is battling with a little weight gain, prompting him to purchase larger clothes in Hong Kong last weekend.
The President said he wanted new clothes that would fit after becoming “one size bigger,” disputing rumors that he was in Hong Kong for a medical checkup.
"Bakit ako magpa-check-up-checkup doon? Namili ako ng damit kay wala na akong damit [Why would I undergo a checkup there? I just bought clothes because I'm running out of clothes]," he said during a press conference in Malacañang Tuesday, when asked about his unannounced visit to Hong Kong with his family last weekend.
Duterte, who earlier said his medical tests showed he does not have cancer, admitted that he was struggling with what to wear due to his “bulging” stomach.
"Nagbili ako ng mga pantalon ma’am kasi mga pantalon ko ano na --- puro itim na lang lahat. I bought some shirts but as you would notice I am practically in barong most of the time [I bought some pants because my pants are mostly black. I bought some shirts but as you would notice I am practically in barong most of the time]," he said.
"Pero whenever I go back to Davao for a short rest, wala akong damit na na-ano kasi tumaba na ako. Bulging ‘yung tummy ko. So one size bigger ako ngayon [Whenever I go back to Davao for a short rest, I have no clothes because I've gained weight. My tummy is bugling so I'm one size bigger]," he said.
When asked if his Hong Kong trip was for medical purposes, Duterte joked about having a "battery syndrome" after testing negative in medical tests in the country and "positive" in his Hong Kong exam.
"Dito sa Pilipinas, negative ako. Pagpunta ko sa Hong Kong, nag-positive ako. So sabi ko sa doktor, 'Ano ang sakit ko?' Sabi niya, 'Battery syndrome' [In the Philippines, I tested negative. When I went to Hong Kong, I tested positive. So I asked the doctor, 'What's my sickness?' He said, 'battery syndrome']," he said.
Duterte then teased reporters to ask him about the nature of "battery syndrome.”
"This is a battery syndrome because may positive, negative na. Kagaya ng baterya [because you have positive and negative like a battery]," he said in poking fun at his medical tests.
He later confessed making up the story about his supposed battery syndrome since his critics won't believe anything he says about his health condition anyway.
"Alam mo bakit ginawa ko ‘yan? Kay kung dito ko sabihin negative ako, sabihin man ng mga kalaban ko, positive ako. Kung sabihin ko rin positive ako, sabihin, “Ah drama lang ‘yan. Negative ‘yan.” So gawa-gawa din ako ng istorya [You know what I did that? Because if I say I'm negative, my enemies will say I'm positive. If I say I'm positive, they'll just say it's just drama, it's really negative. So I just made up a story]," he said.
The President earlier said he was not battling cancer but has Barrett's esophagus or a bad case of gastroesophageal reflux disease. He admitted that his ailment worsened because he has been drinking brandy again.