Communications Secretary says Duterte not in Hong Kong for medical reasons 

Photo: Christopher Bong Go Facebook page.
Photo: Christopher Bong Go Facebook page.

News of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte suddenly going to Hong Kong over the weekend amid concerns about his health have others questioning whether he’s there to consult doctors but Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has said that this wasn’t the case.

“That’s just gossip. We saw his pictures roaming around and browsing for yellow clothes,” Andanar said in Filipino when asked if Duterte was in Hong Kong to see a specialist, ABS-CBN News reported today.

Andanar said that the president was just there to “unwind.”

He even told radio station Radyo Inquirer yesterday that Duterte “deserves” to enjoy the vacation because he is a “hardworking man.”

Members of the administration initially had contradicting statements about the president’s whereabouts. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque initially said that Duterte was in Davao, only to be proven wrong when Special Assistant to the President Christopher Bong Go, known as the “selfie king” posted photos with Duterte’s family in Hong Kong.

Duterte was also spotted shopping inside a Uniqlo store while wearing a face mask, as seen in a photo shared by journalist Ellen Tordesillas.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156755963999282&set=a.60799864281&type=3&theater

According to the South China Morning Post, Duterte was staying at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island.

Roque has seemingly been left out of the loop in several important events. Last week, he claimed that he was not informed about Duterte undergoing an endoscopy and colonoscopy at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Wednesday.

Roque is usually the first to defend Duterte when it comes to controversies but it was announced today that he is currently on leave as the Presidential spokesperson.

Duterte, 73 years old, is the oldest president elected in the Philippines, which is why there have been concerns about his health ever since he took office in 2016.

His health became the focus once again when people started noticing that his complexion was getting darker, which communist leader Jose Maria Sison alleged was a sign of poor health. Duterte denied this and said that it’s just sunburn.

Presidents are required to give full disclosure about their health. On Friday, Roque said Duterte’s latest medical results revealed that there was “growth” found in his digestive tract. Other than that, however, no other details have been shared.

According to a new survey released by Social Weather Stations yesterday, 45 percent of Filipinos believe Duterte has health problems.



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