Duterte postpones visit to quake-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s scheduled visit to quake-hit areas in Davao del Sur yesterday was postponed because he was not feeling well, Malacañang said.

The President was supposed to meet with earthquake survivors in the towns of Malalag and Padada yesterday afternoon. The events have been reset for today.

“Maybe he is not feeling well. It’s ordinary. I am also not feeling well today. If you lack sleep, isn’t it natural? But after that, tomorrow, he would be OK,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a press briefing.

“Eh, baka nagpapahinga si Presidente (Maybe the President was resting),” he added.

When reminded that Duterte had the opportunity to take a rest in Davao City where he had stayed for the holidays, Panelo replied: “Yes, but he also did a lot of things there, right? He attended the Rizal tribute, he visited the cancer victims, he visited some of the earthquake victims, he distributed checks.”

Panelo said there was nothing to worry about the President’s condition.

“It’s just an ordinary illness of a 74-year-old,” he said in Filipino.

Duterte has admitted suffering from migraine related to a spinal injury he sustained in a motorcycle accident in the 1960s. He has admitted suffering from Buerger’s disease, a sickness tied to smoking, and myasthenia gravis, a nerve malfunction.

Officials have claimed the illnesses do not prevent Duterte from performing his functions.

Last week, Duterte led the distribution of assistance and relief goods to earthquake survivors in Digos, Davao del Sur and M’lang Cotabato.