Palace: Aquino not feeling well, skips event

President Benigno Aquino III AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–President Benigno Aquino III skipped a scheduled engagement as he was not feeling well, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

“(The) President did tell me that, yes, he is feeling a little unwell but he intends to…go to his office here in Malacañang,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told Palace reporters.

Aquino’s condition was revealed as Tropical Depression “Ruby” made its way across the country. Ruby, which gradually weakened, has been battering the country since December 4.

The President was supposed to give a keynote address before the 1st National Competition Conference , which was organized by the Department of Justice’s Office for Competition.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima gave the speech on his behalf.

Valte said she noticed that the President had colds during their meeting last week.

“I am not sure if that is one of the causes…why he is not feeling well today,” she said.

However, Valte maintained that the earlier announcement of Aquino’s canceled trip to Korea had nothing to do with his condition.

On Monday evening, Valte said Aquino canceled his attendance to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Republic of Korea (ROK) Commemorative Summit in Busan, South Korea, to focus on government efforts after the onslaught of Ruby.

Valte said there were still no plans for Aquino to visit areas hit by the typhoon.

Earlier forecasts said Ruby was going to be a strong typhoon, comparable to Typhoon “Pablo,” which left more than a thousand people dead in Mindanao in 2012. However, after hitting land, it started to weaken and was later downgraded to a tropical depression.

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