MANILA – Malacañang denied on Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte has been rushed to the hospital.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte was expected to grace the celebration of the 69th Araw ng Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay that afternoon.
“There is no truth [to it]. It is tsismis. It is fake news. The President is fine,” Roque told reporters. “Although he went to have a regular checkup the night before the SONA (State of the Nation Address) he has not been to any medical facility since.”
“It is in fact a crime to spread this kind of news,” Roque added. “There is no truth to these rumors. He (Duterte) will in fact be here in Ipil to lead the celebration for Araw ng Ipil. So his appearance will belie all these false reports.”
Duterte was also scheduled to visit fire victims and wounded soldiers in Zamboanga City later in the day.
The President’s health has been the subject of much speculation but he has repeatedly downplayed such concerns.
Duterte previously revealed he has Buerger’s disease, a condition that causes constriction of the blood vessels due to nicotine, and Barrett’s esophagus, a disease involving the tissue in the esophagus.
He had also admitted to having a misaligned spine as result of a motorcycle accident years ago.
Last month, Duterte vomited during a flight from Seoul, South Korea to Manila supposedly due to migraine. (GMA News)
