Rumors on Duterte's health 'not a serious matter' —Panelo

Malacañang on Monday said rumors regarding the health of President Rodrigo Duterte are not a serious matter, otherwise, the country's top official would discuss this with the public.

"Sabi niya, 'I neither confirm nor deny.' You draw your own conclusions... 'Di na ako nag-ano, kasi palagi naman 'yun ang sinasabi niya 'pag may lumalabas na ganon," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters in a press conference.

"In other words, para sa kanya, it's not a serious matter kasi kung serious 'yun, he always tells the public about it," elaborated Panelo.

Duterte over the weekend refused to confirm or deny rumors that he was hospitalized at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, after days of being out of the public eye.

Malacañang on Sunday then released photos of Duterte, along with his former Special Assistant Christopher "Bong" Go, with the daily broadsheets as proof of life.

"Let me assure the nation that if there is anything wrong with the President's health serious enough to be of our concern, he will tell us and he said so himself," Panelo said Monday.

"'Di ba, he tells you 'pag meron siyang... kung nagpunta siya, nagpatingin siya ng ganito," he said.

Duterte was away from the public eye for several days, with one of his most recent public appearances on Election Day, May 13. He went to the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Barangay Matina, Davao City to cast his vote.

"Para sa kanya, settled na 'yun. Nakikita niyo naman 'yung ayos niya. Nakita niyo nang walang nangyari sa kanya. In other words, hindi siguro importante 'yung bagay na pinagtsi-tsismisan siya," said Panelo. —KG, GMA News