Duterte in fine health – Palace

President Duterte is in “a fine state of health” and will continue to watch over his health amid his heavy workload, Malacañang said yesterday, after a survey showed more Filipinos were worried about his health.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said they appreciate the public concern about the President’s well-being but assured them there was nothing to worry.

“A grateful President assures the nation that there is no cause for worry as he is in a fine state of health, and his punishing schedule of activities in attending and responding to the needs of the citizenry is proof of his good physical condition,” Panelo said. “Even as he performs his constitutional duties, he shall endeavor to always watch over his health,” he added.

A Social Weather Stations survey conducted last Dec. 16 to 19 showed that 66 percent of Filipinos were worried about the President's health, compared to the 55 percent in the September 2018 survey. Around 34 percent of the respondents said otherwise.

The survey also showed 49 percent of the respondents believed Duterte has health problems, 24 percent do not, while 27 percent were undecided.

Malacañang views the survey results with a positive outlook, saying more people wished Duterte will stay healthy to sustain the reforms he has initiated. "It means that not only many Filipinos love the President but those who care for him has increased by 11 percent. Translated into the number of Filipinos caring for the President, that’s a huge chunk of the population," Panelo said.

He said the poll results showed that “an overwhelming number of Filipinos are praying for his good health, for his well being and for him to finish his term.”

“They worry that this President who is offering his freedom and his life so he could save the succeeding generation from being addicted to illegal drugs and from the clutches of certain death, as well as so he could free their families from being dysfunctional, would not last his presidency,” he said. “They fear that such an unwelcome event will deprive them of the genuine change they have seen in his unorthodox, tough yet compassionate and caring governance,” he said.

He said the survey also indicated the people refuse to be stripped of the President's "political will-kind of leadership" by a debilitating disease or an untimely departure. Such situation, Panelo said, might derail the government's war on drugs, crime, and corruption.

"The sizeable number of Filipinos who worries about PRRD’s health wishes to convey to the President that he remains in robust wealth for the sake of the country and the people," he said.

The survey was also a "resounding rejection" of the opposition and critics who attack the President with "ruthless and baseless accusations or condemnations," Panelo said.

The President's health became a major concern last year when he openly talked about his ailments in public and skipped events here and abroad.