PHILIPPINES
Manila Bulletin-June 7
Malacañang assured that President Duterte is generally healthy despite the Chief Executive’s admission on suffering from migraine during his flight from Seoul, South Korea to Manila.
In his Wednesday predawn speech, Duterte admitted that he even puked during the flight due to migraine.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte’s migraine has been a recurring problem since the President figured in a motorcycle incident when he was younger.
“This has been a recurring problem of the President. Nagkakaroon siya ng matinding migraine (He suffers from migraine) from time to time. He says this is related to an earlier motorcycle accident that he suffered. But it comes and goes,” he said Thursday.
Roque also said that since he assumed the post of Presidential Spokesperson in November, this was the first time he saw Duterte suffer from migraine.
“But I think it’s the first time I saw him suffer from this migraine. And yes, sinabi naman niya na (he said) he was sick on the flight because of migraine,” he said.
“Otherwise his health is good. It’s the first time I saw him suffer from a migraine and I’ve gone at least six or seven trips with him,” he added.
Duterte earlier said that he asked Roque to apologize to the other passengers in the late night commercial flight because he was not able to go around and greet them due to his sickness.
“He even asked me to formally apologize to the passengers of the commercial flight na hindi makakaikot si Presidente kasi kostumbre niya ‘yun na umiikot siya, kumakamay-kamay sa mga pasahero ng eroplano, na hindi niya nagawa dahil nga doon sa migraine (that he will not be able to go around and shake the hands of the passengers like he used to because of the migraine),” Roque said.
Meanwhile, Roque said that he will also ask if the President has had an annual check-up like the previous presidents.
Duterte had earlier acknowledged that he has several problems. Duterte earlier asked the public to “not worry” about his health as he claimed that his health is “immaterial”.
Almost a year ago, Duterte stayed away from the public eye for six straight days and his absence was hounded by speculations of a worsening health condition.
“Do not worry. There is the Vice President who will take over. My state of health is immaterial. Kasi ang importante na may (What’s important is there is a) successor,” he said in June last year.
Malacañang has consistently denied that Duterte is suffering from any serious health condition and has appealed to the public to give the President enough time to rest and take a break from his hectic schedule.
“Ang pangulo po natin ay (Our president is) in the pink of health, siya po ay malusog (he is healthy). Siya po ay may kakayanan na mamuno ng bansa natin so wala pong dapat ikabahala ang ating mga kababayan (He is capable of leading the country so there is nothing to worry about),” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview over Brigada News FM last year.
“He’s 72 years old and he’s not a superman. He’s a human being like you and me. Let’s please give him some time to rejuvenate, to relax. He was just resting,” he added.
