Analyst links Duterte's incognito trip to Marawi conflict

An analyst on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte's incognito trip might be related to the ongoing firefight between the government forces and ISIS-linked Maute group in Marawi City.

"Parang 'yung style niya sa Davao daw na minsan nagta-taxi driver siya na hindi nagsasabi. So baka 'yun ang ginawa niya. So baka pumunta siya sa komunidad at humingi ng tulong para labanan 'yung Maute at tsaka 'yung mga group na 'yan," GMA News' resident analyst and professor Richard Heydarian said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Duterte on Saturday dispelled speculations on his health condition noting that the public should not worry over the matter.

He also revealed that he went on a private trip during his one-week rest from the public eye.

"I went on a trip somewhere. I cannot divulge it. I go there incognito. 'Yun ang totoo. Confidential but I travel like a private citizen para lang makaabot sa gusto kong puntahan," he said during a press conference in Butuan City.

National interest

Meanwhile, Heydarian said there should be transparency with regards to the President's health as this is a national security concern.

"'Yung huling beses na na-meet ko si Pangulong Duterte, very healthy naman siya. Makinis na makinis 'yung skin niya. 'Yun ang una kong napansin sa kanya," he said.

"Well dito naman sa issue ng kalusugan ng Pangulo, national interest siya. I think si Senator [Panfilo] Lacson, na-raise niya 'yung point na 'yan few days ago. Sabi niya hindi pwedeng sabihin ng Malacañang na private affair lang ito. Public affairs siya kasi Pangulo siya, commander-in-chief siya at lalong lalo na ngayon mayroon tayong mga bakbakan diyan sa Marawi na tuloy tuloy pa rin. Kailangan ng more transparency," he added.

However, he said the public should not worry in case there would be a problem related to Duterte's health as the 1987 Constitution assures succession of power.

"Sabi nga ni Pangulong Duterte even if, God forbid, may mangyari sa kanya, meron naman tayong constitutional process. So may VP tayo. Of course pwedeng sabihin ng iba ay well-contested 'yung seat ng VP, pero so far constitutionally, legally, meron pa rin tayong VP," Heydarian said.

"At in an event na meron ding question diyan sa VP, meron tayong President ng Senate at tsaka Speaker of the House. So may sapat tayong provision diyan sa Constitution para siguraduhin na hindi magkakaroon ng problema pagdating sa succession," he added.

Stress, age

Heydarian also pointed out that it is normal for the President who is 72 years old to get tired, noting that the latter had a lot on his plate in the last few weeks.

"Well medyo may edad na kasi si Pangulo at tsaka ang hirap ng ginawa ng Pangulo doon sa Mindanao kasi pinuntahan niya lahat ng grieving families," he said.

"So ma-imagine mo 'yung stress, sense of responsibility, syempre umiiyak 'yung mga asawa ng sundalo at syempre taga-Mindanao din siya. So I think 'yung psychological pressure ay heavy talaga. So siguro talaga kailangan ni Pangulo ng rejuvenation pero so far although walang concern, magandang magkaroon ng more transparency," he added.

"Otherwise, magkakaroon ng mga unnecessary speculations sa merkado, sa mga business sector kasi concern din ng business sector kung may political instability at mahalaga kung 'yung ating Presidente ay healthy." —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News