MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has been in “perpetual isolation” to keep him safe from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Roque said during the Palace briefing on Monday that the 75-year-old Duterte was being strictly protected by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) from having close contacts with anybody.
“He is in perpetual isolation in the sense that the PSG has done a very good job in making sure that no one really comes close to the President,” he said.
Roque’s statement comes after Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, who was present in a meeting with the President in Davao City on August 10, revealed on Sunday that he tested positive again for COVID-19.
“Ang Presidente naman po, technically wala siyang close contact at kung we will go by the book hindi siya nag-close contact dahil malayo po kami lahat kay Presidente at naka-face shield at tsaka naka-face mask,” Roque said.
There were also reports over the weekend that Duterte went to Singapore for medical treatment but Roque vehemently denied this.
“There’s no true sa report na pumunta si Presidente sa Singapore,” Roque said. “He is in Davao City and is monitoring the COVID-19 situation.”/PN
