Panelo on Duterte’s health: He’s OK, still cursing

President Rodrigo Duterte congratulates Cadet First Class Dionne Mae Umalla, valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 2019, as he hands her her diploma during Sunday’s graduation ceremony at Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City. (Photo by EV ESPIRITU / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — “He is very much okay. He is still cursing,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in jest Tuesday after being asked about the President Rodrigo Duterte’s health in an interview with CNN Philippines.

“Kapag hindi na nagku-curse baka may sakit na si Presidente,” Panelo said of the President, who is known for cursing in his public speeches.

[When he stops cursing, then maybe the President is sick.]

In May, the President’s health became a point of discussion again when he attended the graduation rites of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2019 in Baguio City allegedly looking frail.

Observers noted that the President seemed wobbly as he almost fell while boarding a military jeep for the trooping-the-line tradition.

But Panelo immediately shrugged off the allegations following the event, saying that the President was merely sleepy since he only had two hours of sleep before the event.

Reports of the President being hospitalized also surfaced days before the graduation, which the Palace denied.

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