President Duterte skipped the Barangay Summit on Peace and Order that he was supposed to lead in Palo, Leyte Friday afternoon, his former top presidential aide said.
In a text message, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said that the President is “not feeling well,” prompting the Chief Executive to skip the event.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, in a text message, defended Duterte’s absence in the event, saying the President is not some superhero who can cope up with all commitments.
“President Duterte is not Superman, every person does not feel well sometimes. I don’t feel well now and I’m also cancelling my appointment later this afternoon,” he said.
The Palace official said the President’s absence should not worry anyone, adding that Duterte should instead be commended for knowing when to rest.
“I don’t think that the President cancelling an event in Tacloban because he is not feeling well is a cause of concern,” Panelo said.
“We should in fact commend the President for knowing when to cancel a trip and resting his body if he is not feeling his usual strong self,” he added.
However, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año told reporters in Palo that Duterte skipped the event because of “pressing matters” he refused to divulge.
“Ah hindi ako ang spokesman ng ating Pangulo kaya hindi ko pwedeng masagot ‘yung ganyan na tanong. Siyempre ang ganyan si Secretary Panelo,” he said.
“Ang nakarating sa akin is I should represent the President because of some pressing commitment so siguro kasama na rin siguro doon ‘yon but probably the best person to ask is the spokesperson of the President,” he added. (Argyll Geducos)
