Sara: All is well with President Duterte’s health

CATARMAN, Northern Samar — All is well with President Rodrigo Duterte’s health, his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said Monday.

Sara, the campaign manager of administration slate Hugpong ng Pagbabago, made the pronouncement two days after the President missed two events in his hometown of Davao City due to migraine.

The two events were: land distribution for farmers and the campaign rally of the ruling party PDP-Laban where the President serves as party chairman.

“I don’t think there is a problem with him. Last night, he was up and about. There are no issues about his health,” Sara told reporters during a campaign stop here.

“Usually naman kasi kung meron mga ganyang problema, you would expect na kami ang unang sasabihan. Wala namang sinabi sa amin,” Sara added.

In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President is not suffering from a serious medical condition.

“Oh definitely not; the usual migraine that affects him every now and then,” Panelo said at a news conference.

Asked if the President was in “perfect shape,” Panelo said: “Oh, definitely.”

Duterte’s former top aide Christopher “Bong” Go earlier released photos of the President having midnight snacks last Saturday and eating pandesal on Monday.

The President has no scheduled public appearances on Monday and Tuesday, the Palace said.

Prior to his absence in the said two events, the President also skipped the peace and order summit with barangay officials in Leyte last February 1 due to slight fever.

The President’s absence from the public eye from time to time has sparked speculations about his health, but he has been responding to it with humor by asking the public to “pray for the eternal repose of his soul.”

President Duterte is 73 years old. He has previously said that he has a 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.

The President also said in December 2018 that he paid a visit to a hospital for a blood test. — with Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News