Palace dismisses Duterte hospitalization yarn

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday denied that President Rodrigo Duterte was hospitalized at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

In a statement, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President is “fit and healthy.”

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC

“We have been informed that a false news starting to spread in the social media that PRRD is already confined at Cardinal Santos hospital,” Panelo said.

“We wish to inform the public that such information is absolutely false. The President is fit and healthy and is currently doing his presidential duties at his official residence at the Bahay Pagbabago,” he added.

Panelo warned against peddlers of false news and advised the public to rely on the Palace’s official announcements regarding the President.

“We caution our people to be wary of purveyors of false news and information and always watch and read official advisories relative to the President and the implementation of the Bayanihan Heal As One Act to put a stop to the spread of the deadly COVID-19,” he said.

Duterte was last seen  in a taped public address  Wednesday night.

GSG