President Duterte has not been hospitalized and actually remains fit and healthy to perform his job as the country’s leader, Malacañang assured the public on Thursday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has branded rumors of the President’s hospitalization as false news while reminding the public to guard against peddlers of misinformation.
“We have been informed that a false news starting to spread in the social media that PRRD is already confined at Cardinal Santos hospital,” Panelo said in a statement Thursday.
“We wish to inform the public that such information is absolutely false. The President is fit and healthy and is currently doing his presidential duties at his official residence at the Bahay Pagbabago,” he said.
Panelo urged the public to rely on official government advisory instead of purveyors of fake news.
“We caution our people to be wary of purveyors of false news and information and always watch and read official advisories relative to the President and the implementation of the Bayanihan Heal As One Act to put a stop to the spread of the deadly COVID-19,” he said.
The President delivered another taped public address Wednesday night, this time warning the left against instigating riots during the coronavirus emergency. Duterte, speaking from the Malago Clubhouse inside Malacanang Park, also directed the police to conduct patrols to prevent violence and harassment of the country’s health workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.
The 75-year-old Duterte has been recently advised by his doctors to go on self-quarantine as a precaution against the coronavirus. He was reportedly exposed to some officials who were in contact with coronavirus cases.
The President’s former assistant and now Senator Christopher Go said the President will remain in self-quarantine until April 7. (Genalyn Kabiling)
