President Duterte addressed rumors about his whereabouts.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday addressed rumors about his whereabouts after he was missing from the public eye for nearly two weeks.
During his weekly public address, the President tackled rumors about his whereabouts, saying that he intended to be absent from the public eye and he did it on purpose.
According to the President, his hometown had always been Davao City and that he can freely go home anytime, adding that he didn’t use public funds for his trips.
Also, the President addressed criticisms after Senator Christopher “Bong” Go posted photos and videos showing him golfing, jogging, and motorbike-riding in an apparent bid to quell rumors on his health.
President Duterte said that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying his hobbies in the wee hours of the day as he wasn’t taking people’s time.
“Pero kung sabihin mo na may sakit ako ngayon to prevent me from exercising the powers of the presidency, wala ho. Kaya ako nakaka-swing ng golf (club), tapos nagmo-motor, kasi kaya ko pa. The problem is you should look into the time I enjoy my hobbies. Gabi ‘yun, ano ba naman. Sa araw makita mo ako nag-golf…sabihin may problema,” President Duterte said.
President Duterte’s absence from the public eye coincided with a report of Chinese ships chasing a Filipino boat away from Philippine waters and a 2-week return of the Greater Manila Area to the strictest quarantine level.
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On health rumors
The President also hammered his critics again as he tackled rumors that he’s missing in action due to ill health.
President Duterte denied having any health condition that prevented him from running the Philippines. Also, the President seemed to say that his absence was because he had spent some time in his hometown of Davao City.
The President claimed that rumors about his health were circulated by political enemies who wanted him dead.
“Kung sabihin mo may sakit ako, may sakit ako. Pero kung sabihin mo may sakit ako ngayon that would be preventing me from exercising the powers of the presidency, wala po. If you want me to die early, you must pray harder. What you would like to happen is to see me go. You want me to go and you’re praying for that,” President Duterte said.
Earlier, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Duterte was “not sick” despite his absence.
The President canceled his public engagements last week after some Presidential Security Group (PSG) members contracted COVID-19, said his allies, who denied that the President was sick.
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