Palace denies cardiac arrest rumor, says President is well and working

Malacañang denied new rumors that President Duterte was rushed to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center early Sunday due to cardiac arrest.

In a text message, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the rumors are not true, adding the President was probably just resting.

"He should probably be in his quarters and resting like what I will do in a few minutes. Thanks for understanding," he said on Sunday afternoon.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo also quelled the rumors, saying the President is in Malacañang working.

'The President is in his residence at the Palace signing papers. I just talked to him, he is neither confirming nor denying that he went to the

hospital," he said.

Presidential Security Group (PSG) spokesman Captain Zeerah Blanche Lucrecia also denied the rumors. However, she refused to divulge information on the President's whereabouts.

"As of last night and today, no such incident involving the President took place," she said in a text message.

"I hope you understand that due to security protocols, we cannot divulge the President's location. However we can assure you, that the President is well and good," she added.

Rumors about President Duterte's health circulated anew after he was not seen by the public for the past week since casting his vote in the midterm elections last Monday.

This was not the first time that rumors circulated about the President being rushed to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. In October last year, Malacañang officials denied that the Chief Executive went to the hospital. Duterte, however, confirmed the reports the same day.

"But 'yung reading ng aking (of my results)... somebody advised my doctor just also to repeat and get some samples there. So I stayed there for one hour sa (in) Cardinal Santos," he said in October last year.

The President assured that he will inform the public if he has a serious illness.

"I don't know where I'm now physically but I have to wait for that. But I will tell you if it's cancer, it's cancer," he said.

"If it's third stage, no more treatment. I will not prolong the agony in this office or anywhere," he added.