Duterte says his dark face was due to his frequent travels

August 31, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte said the darkening of his face was due to his frequent travels around the country.

Duterte made the explanation in Mandaue City following the allegation of Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, that the President was seriously ill and even went comatose, as shown by his darkening face.

"Sison even pointed out my dark skin, which was caused by going around so many places. But I’m not the one who’s dying," he said.

He said it was just natural that his skin would darken because he was not using any cream.

Duterte recalled that when he was campaigning for the president, his skin got burned.

"It’s always like this every election. So I have so many elections in my life including the presidency. This is what I’ve gained, burnt skin. It won’t heal right away but it will eventually be back to normal," he added.

When Sison came out with the accusation that the President was in comatose, Duterte and his Cabinet officials immediately denied it.

But Duterte admitted that he was in "perpetual pain" because of a motorcycle accident before. Celerina Monte/DMS