BREAKING: Duterte skips visit to quake victims in Davao del Sur towns

More than 1,000 quake victims, town and village officials waited for President Rodrigo Duterte during the scheduled turnover of financial assistance on Friday in Padada, Davao del Sur. After a three-hour wait, the president was a no-show, represented instead by Sen. Bong Go and Presidential son Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte. Photo by Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte skipped his scheduled visit to earthquake victims in Malalag and Padada towns in Davao del Sur on Friday.

The event was originally scheduled on Thursday but moved to Friday because the President was not feeling well.

Duterte’s son, Davao City Vice-Mayor Sebastian Duterte instead attended the activity for the President.

But Senator Bong Go, who also attended the event, told the crowd gathered at the Malalag gym that President Duterte failed to show up for the second time because he was still “too weak to go.”

Bum stomach

In an interview with the media, Go said the President had a stomach ache after eating something.

“We ask for your understanding for the second day that he could not be here, medyo he’s not feeling well. Sa mga nagtatanong kung ano’ng karamdaman (To those asking what ailment), don’t worry because the President is only experiencing the common ailment of a 74-year-old,” he claimed.

Go said: “He’s not feeling well in two straight days, he was advised by the doctor to rest, but tonight he is scheduled to travel back to Manila to attend the turnover ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff.”

“It’s not unusual naman po to ask for prayers because we always pray,” he also said in an effort to explain why he asked for prayers for the President’s health from the Malalag audience.

“But tomorrow, he will be back. Medyo masama lang ang sikmura (His stomach is not okay), may nakain lang siya na masama siguro (maybe he consumed something bad), alam ninyo (you know), sino ba namang 74-year old ang ‘di magkasakit (any 74-year-old gets sick),” Go further said. “He was advised by the doctor to rest for two straight days because tomorrow, there will be a turnover of the AFP (chain of command) and   on Monday, the signing of the budget at Malacañang.”

Mayor Peter Valentin Tan also appeased the assembly of more than 1,000 people –mostly survivors of the December 15 quake that rocked Davao del Sur and surrounding areas. The people waited for the President for about three hours.

“The President cannot come but don’t worry, his son Vice Mayor Baste Duterte is here, he is just the same as the President,” he said.

More than 1,000 quake victims, town and village officials waited for President Rodrigo Duterte during the scheduled turnover of financial assistance on Friday in Padada, Davao del Sur. After a three-hour wait, the president was a no-show, represented instead by Sen. Bong Go and Presidential son Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte. Photo by Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao

Needs more sleep

However, a text message from presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo revealed another reason for Duterte’s absence in Malalag and Padada towns.

According to Panelo, the President had to catch up on his sleep.

“Kelangan ng tulog ni PRRD dahil sa dami ng ginawa niya past few days,” Panelo said.

(President Duterte needs sleep because of the many things he did the past few days).

Duterte’s event in Davao del Sur could have been his first public event this 2020. Orlando Dinoy, Germelina Lacorte

Edited by KGA/LZB