Coughing fit disrupts Duterte’s speech at Palace event, says he contracted virus due to cold Japan weather

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday was hit by coughing fit that briefly interrupted his speech before new government officials in Malacañang.

Duterte was talking about hazing in fraternities when he coughed a few times.

“Sorry, I have this virus nakuha ko sa - ang lamig naman kasi ng Japan eh. Malamig sa gabi,” the President said in his speech.

He said Filipinos are not used to cold weather, thus affecting the immune system.

Duterte was in Japan on October 22 to attend the enthronement ceremony for Emperor Naruhito. But he had to cut short his trip because because of an “unbearable pain” in his spinal column following his recent motorcycle accident in the Palace complex.

In August 2017, Duterte had to overcome at least three coughing fits in the middle of his speech before poultry industry stakeholders who were affected by the avian influenza virus that hit certain parts of the province.

Duterte said then that his cough was due to his exposure to flowers during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for the National Heroes Day, which he attended before going to the boodle fight. — RSJ, GMA News