Malacañang yesterday denied new rumors that President Duterte was hospitalized at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.
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.
Presidential spokesperson 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 spokesperson Capt. Zeerah Blanche Lucrecia denied the rumors. She refused to divulge Duterte’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 can not divulge the President’s location. However, we can assure you, that the President is well and good,” she added.
Duterte’s trusted aide and presumptive Sen. Bong Go shared a photo online taken yesterday at Bahay Pagbabago in Malacanang to dispel rumors.
Rumors about Duterte’s health surfaced anew after he was not seen by the public for the past week since he cast his vote in the 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 Duterte went to the hospital. However, Duterte confirmed 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 Cardinal Santos,” he said.
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. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
