Duterte in the pink of health, Andanar assures

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday assured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte is in the “pink of his health” hours before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Andanar said the President was very energetic on Sunday night when he had his final rehearsal for his address to the nation.

“He was very energetic last night. The check-up was part of the routine. He is in the pink of his health,” Andanar told reporters upon arriving at the Congress with his wife.

Duterte’s last-minute check-up last night was part of Sona preparations to ensure that the President was in good shape, he added.

Andanar revealed that Duterte made last-minute changes to his speech, adding that the President had been very hands-on with his last two Sonas.

The Palace official, however, declined to comment if the President would mention the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which was not ratified by the Lower House.

Duterte was supposed to sign the bill into law before his Sona and was expected to discuss the law creating the Bangsamoro entity in his address.

Meanwhile, Andanar said this Sona serves as a soft launch for a government satellite project that would allow remote villages to watch the President’s speech.

The project will also allow the President to communicate with the residents of these villages if he wants to.   /vvp