MANILA – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that his description of President Rodrigo Duterte being under “perpetual isolation” was just a figure of speech.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with DZBB that nobody can go near the country’s Chief Executive as he was heavily guarded by the Presidential Security Group.
“Ang konteksto po ang walang puedeng makalapit sa kanya, higit pa sa isang metro dapat ng distancing. Figure of speech to say na walang puedeng makalapit sa kanya,” Roque said.
“May velvet cord nga [sa meeting], mga six feet [away], kahit ako wala ng pagkakataon for a private conversation. Kung meron akong itatanong, tawag na lang,” he added.
Roque also maintained: “Wala pong karamdaman ang Presidente. He is healthy.”
Issues regarding President Duterte’s health surfaced after fake reports that he went to Singapore for medical treatment over the weekend. The Chief Executive denied this as he claims that he was in Davao City.
“Alam mo, kung gusto ko umalis, aalis ako. I do not have to keep a secret because I will not be using any government funds,” Duterte said. “I’m under no obligation to travel in secret and not tell you, the republic, at all.”
“If guaranteed sa inyo, guaranteed din sa akin. I do not have to hide it. So stop this nonsense about me going to Singapore, I said, if at all,” he added. “Wala kayong pakialam kung gusto kong pumunta.”/PN
