President Duterte says he’s physically fit to function as president
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has assured the Filipino public Monday that he has no illness that could prevent him from doing his duties as president.
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President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency
Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the
MalacaΓ±ang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in MalacaΓ±ang Park, Manila on April 12,
2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Duterte was responding to speculations regarding his health especially due to his long absence from the public view.
“Kung
sabihin mo may sakit ako, may sakit ako. Pero kung sabihin mo may sakit ako
ngayon that would prevent me from exercising the powers of the presidency, wala
ho,” he said during his Talk to the People address.
“Kaya
ako nagmo --- kaya ako nakaka-swing ng golf, tapos nagmomotor eh kasi kaya ko
pa.”
Meanwhile,
President Duterte said he is willing to waive his slot in the government
vaccination program and would prefer to give the jab to a young and productive
individual.
“Kami,
okay na ako. Maski kami ‘yong ano. Ako, magwi-waive ako. Magwi-waive ako. Basta
70 above... Alam mo 70 above, ano mang ma --- ano mang makuha mo magsige ka
dream?” he said.
“Dream of what? Living until kingdom come? Ako
magwi-waive ako. Kung sino ‘yong may gusto sa slot ko, ibigay ko. Wala akong
ano masyado sa ano…”
The
government has so far administered COVID-19 shots to the country’s healthcare
workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.
The
Department of Health (DOH) has reported 11,378 new cases on Monday, April 12,
bringing the country’s total COVID-19 active infections to 157,451.
With
267 patients recovering from the virus, the country’s a total recovery tally is
now at 703,625. The DOH also reported 204 individuals who succumbed from the
virus, breaching the 15,000 death toll.
The
Philippines has a total of 876,225 confirmed COVID-19 cases. PND
