Filipinos worried of Duterte’s health? It means they ‘love’ him, Panelo says

Manila, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday said that a survey showing that majority of Filipinos are worried about President Rodrigo Duterte’s state of health only indicates the people’s “love” towards the Chief Executive.

“We’re glad that people are worried because it only means that they love the President. He may not be as strong as a bull… but certainly, he can still function effectively as President,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing, referring to a Social Weather Station survey that claimed 72 percent of Filipinos are worried about Duterte’s health.

Panelo claimed Duterte’s work rate is supposedly “incomparable” to that of his predecessors despite his advanced age.

“I haven’t seen any President traveling the way he travels. He flies from one point to another. Visiting the troops, visiting calamity victims. Having situation briefings, attending wakes, visiting injured personnel in the military and the PNP and at the same time, doing his work and still reading books,” he said.

“Ibang klase nga itong Presidenteng ito (This President is one of a kind),” he added.

Duterte, now 74, was the oldest elected president of the Philippines.

His state of health has been a recurring issue in his presidency due to his sporadical absence in a number of public engagements.

He also admitted publicly that he has, among other things, Buerger’s disease and Barrett’s esophagus, and that had been experiencing occasional headaches and has spinal issues which he attributes to a motorcycle accident when he was 68 years old.