Journalist clarifies he was not the one who asked Duterte about his health

Karlos Manlupig, a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, took to Facebook on Saturday to belie President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's statements during his speech at his thanksgiving party at Crocodile Park, Talomo District, Davao City. 

Duterte once more rallied citizens against corruption both big and small, encouraging people to join him in his fight against drugs and criminality. He also expressed strong disdain for both the church and the media.

In his expletive-filled speech, Duterte named a reporter in particular, "Manlupig," who supposedly asked him about his health. 

"Very impertinent question. 'How is your health? I'm fine. Where is your medical report?' Aba putang ina," Duterte said. The president-elect said that he retorted by asking about the genitals of the reporter's wife.

Manlupig clarified on his Facebook account that he never asked Duterte about his health.

Manlupig tagged fellow PDI correspondent Dennis Jay Santos, who confirmed that it was him who asked  Duterte about his health during the press conference in Mandaya Hotel.

After winning the elections, Duterte said that he stayed out of the public eye to rest and regain his strength. His close friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy revealed to the press that there was a time when Duterte almost collapsed due to exhaustion during the campaign season.

In response, Duterte joked and told reporters he had cancer.

“May cancer ako. Oo, may sakit ako. Nagkaroon ako ng appendicitis. Then, iyong throat ko nag-ano. Then, I found out that stage four iyong cancer ko. Sinasabi ko na sa inyo. Iyong lungs ko wala nang pumapasok na hangin. Iyong ano ko, ayaw na talaga,” he said. —AT/ALG/KG, GMA News