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No-show Duterte ‘not sick’, says Palace

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Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/04/12/20210301-duterte-cabinet-32-2.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on March 1, 2021. <em>Karl Norman Alonzo, Presidential Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been absent from public eye for nearly two weeks, “is not sick”, Malacañang said on Monday, as it also rejected calls for the release of bulletins on his health.</p><p>Duterte, 76, is expected to deliver his “Talk to the People” later Monday, his first since March 29. He cancelled public engagements last week after some members of his security team contracted COVID-19, said his allies, who denied that the President was ill. </p><p>“Ang (a) medical bulletin is only given when the President is sick; and he is not sick,” Duterte&#x27;s spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing. </p><p>The President “remains fit and healthy for his age,” Roque said last Thursday. </p><p>Duterte, the oldest to become Philippine President, had said he suffers Barrett’s esophagus, an inflammation of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.</p><p>The President, in various instances, said he also struggled with back pains, migraines and Buerger&#x27;s disease, which is linked to blockages in the blood vessels associated with smoking during his youth.</p><p>A former aide last week released videos and photos showing Duterte jogging, golfing, and motorbike-riding in an apparent bid to quell rumors on his health.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/21/nasaanangpangulo-duterte-images-video-released-as-public-asks-whereabouts">#NasaanAngPangulo? Duterte images, video released as public asks whereabouts</a></li></ul><p>Duterte “made all the decisions he needed to make” over the weekend regarding the quarantine status of Metro Manila and other areas. He also “supervised” the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, said Roque.</p><p>“Ang assumption n&#x27;yo po, kinakailangan magpakita para patunay na nagtatrabaho ang Presidente. Hindi po ganoon ang istilo ng ating President,” he said.</p><p>“Hindi na po niya kinakailangan ipagmayabang sa publiko na siya ay nagtatrabaho. Ang taumbayan naman ay naniniwala naman na on top of the situation ang President, even if hindi niya pinangangalandakan ito sa taongbayan.”</p><p>(Your assumption is the President should be seen to prove that he is working. That&#x27;s not the style of our President. He doesn&#x27;t need to brag to the public that he is working. The public believes the President is on top of the situation even if he does not boast.) </p><p>The hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo (where is the President) trended on Twitter last week.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/21/whos-calling-the-shots-robredo-says-philippines-needs-a-conductor-in-pandemic-fight">Who&#x27;s calling the shots? Robredo says Philippines needs a &#x27;conductor&#x27; in pandemic fight</a></li></ul><p>Duterte&#x27;s absence from public eye coincided with the 2-week return of the Greater Manila area to the strictest quarantine level, and a report of Chinese ships chasing a Filipino boat away from Philippine waters.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/21/malacanang-duterte-china-ships-missiles-chase-filipino-boat">Palace mum on China ships&#x27; chase of Filipino vessel in PH waters</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1659695" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><div><em>Video courtesy of PTV</em></div></div>

<p>President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been absent from public eye for nearly two weeks, “is not sick”, Malacañang said on Monday, as it also rejected calls for the release of bulletins on his health. <br /> </p>

President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been absent from public eye for nearly two weeks, “is not sick”, Malacañang said on Monday, as it also rejected calls for the release of bulletins on his health.

No-show Duterte ‘not sick’, says Palace

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No-show Duterte ‘not sick’, says Palace

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 12, 2021 04:37 PM PHT

|

Updated April 12, 2021 04:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte health

Nasaan Ang Pangulo

ECQ

quarantine

NCR Plus

COVID surge

coronavirus vaccine

COVID vaccine

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