Panelo: Asean leaders worried about ‘overworked’ Duterte

MANILA, Philippines—Leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states said President Rodrigo Duterte appeared “overworked” during the recently-concluded 35th Asean Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo said leaders of the regional bloc were “commenting” on the President’s state of health during the biannual meeting on Nov. 2 to 4.

Panelo revealed this when asked if Duterte’s plan to rest in Davao City following a motorcycle accident would push through.

“Na kay Presidente na ‘yun. (It’s up to the President). But if you will ask me, he really needs to rest,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“May mga comment dun sa mga (Asean) leaders e (There were comments from Asean leaders). ‘Your President looks overworked. Don’t let him work too much. ‘Yun lahat ang mga comment ng mga ano doon (That’s what they are saying),” he added.

The Palace official said they told Asean leaders that Duterte is indeed “working very hard” and at the same time suffered a motorcycle fall which “contributed to what you are seeing now.”

Duterte returned to Manila on Monday night after participating in the regional summit.

Senator Bong Go, Duterte’s longtime aide, earlier revealed that the President wanted to go home to Davao City, where he would stay for a week to rest his “aching back” although he won’t take a leave of absence.

Duterte, 74, cut short his visit to Japan after he complained of “unbearable pain” in his spine a week after his motorcycle accident.

But knowing Duterte, Panelo said he is most likely to lessen his workload instead of taking a leave of absence.

“Most likely he will lessen his volume of work para hindi siya masyadong pressured (to take away too much pressure),” he said.

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