Palace: More Filipinos care for Duterte’s health

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The result of the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing more Filipinos worrying about President Rodrigo Duterte’s health means more people are caring for what happens to the Chief Executive, Malacañang said Thursday.

The SWS fourth quarter survey conducted in December 2018 revealed that 66 percent of Filipinos were worried about the President’s health, up 11 points from the 55 percent in September 2018.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Palace was looking at the survey results with “a positive outlook.”

“It means that not only many Filipinos love the President but those who care for him have increased by 11 percent,” Panelo said.

“Translated into the number of Filipinos caring for the President,” he said the figures was “a huge chunk of the population.”

“The survey results show that an overwhelming number of Filipinos are praying for his good health, for his wellbeing and for him to finish his term,” he said.

“They worry that this President would not last his presidency,” Panelo added.

The presidential spokesperson said people saw Duterte as “offering his freedom and his life so he could save the succeeding generation from being addicted to illegal drugs and from the clutches of certain death, as well as so he could free their families from being dysfunctional.”

He said Filipinos “fear that such an unwelcome event will deprive them of the genuine change they have seen in his unorthodox, tough yet compassionate and caring governance.”

“Our countrymen would not want to be stripped of the searing iron-clad political will kind of leadership given them by a debilitating disease or an untimely departure which will derail the unrelenting war against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs that has provided them the safety net against plunderers, criminals and scoundrels whose plunder of the nation’s wealth and resources for so long has divested the country of the economic and social engines for growth and development,” he said.

“The sizeable number of Filipinos who worries about PRRD’s health wishes to convey to the President that he remains in robust wealth for the sake of the country and the people.,” he added.

The SWS survey, according to him, “is at the same time a resounding rejection of the opposition, the critics and the detractors who continuously assault the President with ruthless and baseless accusations or condemnations.”

Panelo extended the assurance of “a grateful President” that “there is no cause for worry as he is in a fine state of health, and his punishing schedule of activities in attending and responding to the needs of the citizenry is proof of his good physical condition.”

“Even as he performs his constitutional duties, he shall endeavor to always watch over his health,” he said. /cbb