Roque clueless on Duterte new medical tests

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday clarified that he had no idea President Rodrigo Duterte recently went to a hospital to undergo medical tests.

“Unang-una, kahapon lang po niya sinabi ito, ako mismo hindi ko po alam ito,” Roque said in an interview over dzRH.

“Ang alam ko po ay kaya siya hindi nakapag-attend kasi nga nagpahinga siya dahil sunud-sunod iyong mga lakad niya, including iyong huling lakad niya sa Tacloban na alas-sais na silang nakaalis ng Tacloban pabalik ng Maynila,” he added.

Roque made the clarification after Duterte on Thursday night admitted before the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. that he was at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center the previous day and underwent endoscopy and colonoscopy, three weeks after he took the same tests.

The President was supposed to attend an event with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) officials on Wednesday, but according to Roque, he decided to take the day off and spend some “private time” in Bahay Pangarap.

Roque however reassured the public that the President is in good shape and that nothing is “exceptional” about his illness.

“Malusog po, nakita n’yo naman kahapon. Ang kumakalat na tsismis ay kung anu-ano raw ang nangyari kay Presidente, hindi naman po ano,” he said.

“Malakas naman ang Presidente… So, ito po ay karamdaman ng isang 73-year-old, pero hindi po ito exceptional na karamdaman,” he added. /muf

READ: Duterte admits he had colonoscopy anew