“It’s no big deal,” Senator Panfilo Lacson says
(Eagle News) — Several senators on Wednesday dismissed President Rodrigo Duterte’s continued absence from the public eye, with some of them saying he was just “resting.”
“No need to announce ‘the President is resting.’ What for? Hence, if there is no announcement that he is sick, why do we insist that he is sick? He is resting from the public eye! I see no issue at all,” Senate President Koko Pimentel said.
For Senator Panfilo Lacson, the “human body, especially that of a 71-year-old who happens to be the president of a country that has to deal with all sorts of problems like the secessionist movement in the south, (New People’s Army) insurgency, illegal drugs and crimes, with corruption in government to boot, is not expected to always stay in shape.”
“President Duterte is no exception. Those who came before him likewise took some days off occasionally because of health issues. For me, it’s no big deal,” he said.
According to Senator JV Ejercito, now was “not the time to speculate on the health of the President.”
He said “if there is anything we know of President Duterte, it is that he is honest, direct to the point and transparent.”
“I am not worried because I am certain he will address this issue, if there is ‘an issue,'” he said.
For his part, Senator Tito Sotto said, “I’m sure the Palace will inform us if there is cause for alarm.”
Malacanang said the President was in “excellent health” and was only taking some time off following his brutal schedule over the weekend.
His schedule saw him visiting wounded soldiers’ wakes and going around military camps.
This was done to boost the morale of government troops fighting local terrorists in Marawi.
