Rody in robust health, downed by slight fever – Palace

President Duterte continues to enjoy “robust” health but had to skip an event over the weekend because of a slight fever, Malacañang said yesterday.

Rumors about Duterte’s supposed death circulated online after he failed to attend a peace and order summit in Leyte Friday. There were also speculations that the President was seriously ill and could no longer perform his duties.

The 73-year-old Duterte disproved the rumors by appearing on online videos and mocking those who claimed he was dead.

In one of the videos, Duterte urged those who believed rumors about his death to pray for the eternal repose of his soul. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the false information was peddled by persons who could not accept Duterte’s reforms.

Panelo also maintained that the President is not suffering from a serious illness.

“We assure our countrymen that (President Duterte) remains in robust health and is just resting in his Davao home for the weekend while preparing for the coming week’s grueling schedule,” Panelo said in a statement.

“The President is conscientious of his health and he puts a break to his activities if he feels his body is not up to it. In other words, he knows how to take care of himself and does not perform any activity beyond what is necessary or is harmful to his physical being,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte’s conscious effort to take care of his health prompted him to cancel his activity last Friday.

“Perhaps he felt his body was not up to performing any activity that day so he cancelled all his activities. He preferred to rest. And we should commend him for that, which means he’s taking care of himself. He’s not pushing his body to the limit,” Panelo said in a press briefing.

Quoting Duterte’s former aide Christopher Go, Panelo said the President had a slight fever.

“He wanted to make sure that it would not get worse so he took some rest,” he added.

Panelo claimed Duterte appears to be indestructible and apparently immune from serious illness despite his punishing schedule.

“We are sorry to disappoint the illwishers and the rumormongers even as we are amused by the detractors’ propensity of running berserk in putting the President in a bad light or removing him from the physical plane in their minds,” Panelo said.