President Rodrigo Duterte, in black shirt and pants, walks out of a restaurant in BGC in Taguig on Monday, May 27, 2019. (Photo by POCHOLO CONCEPCION / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte looked fine from a distance — dressed in casual black shirt and pants, both hands in his pockets — as he emerged from a Chinese restaurant in Bonifacio Global City at around 10 p.m. on Monday, May 27.
Traffic in the vicinity of the restaurant momentarily stopped when a convoy of vehicles arrived at past 8 p.m.
Security was tight. Aside from the President’s close-in bodyguards in checkered polo shirts, there were four others in full battle gear.
An ambulance — part of the standard procedure — was parked alongside the President’s security vehicles.
This reporter asked security personnel standing near the restaurant who was inside. They said: “Si President po.”
The President’s appearance in BGC came a day after social media was abuzz with photos and videos showing him walking with difficulty, almost losing his balance, and sleeping during the graduation ceremonies of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2019 in Baguio.
Rumors were rife that he was confined last week at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan after he disappeared from public view after the May 13 midterm elections.
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)