Duterte to attend in ASEAN summit in Thailand despite health issue

October 27, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte will join the other Southeast Asian leaders in the upcoming summit in Thailand next month despite concerns about his health, Malacanang said on Sunday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed this in a radio interview. However, he could not say if Duterte would skip some of the events during the ASEAN summit and related summits on November 1-4.

“He has scheduled (bilateral meetings)... he will decide on the day itself but the fact alone he agreed to push on going to Bangkok means he is okay,” said Panelo.

Some world leaders already expressed concern over Duterte’s health after his recent motorcycle accident, which was blamed for the "unbearable pain" on his pelvic area while he was in Japan, prompting him to immediately return to Manila shortly after the enthronement ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhito on October 22.

“We are not surprised of their concern because they admire the President… it’s only natural for them to express their concern but we assure them, the President assured them that he is okay,” Panelo said.

The presidential spokesperson said Duterte is now resting in Davao City and will be back in Manila on Monday to attend his events.

Panelo reiterated there is no need to disclose the President’s medical bulletin because his condition was not serious.

“As I said, there is no need because our constitutional requirement is (to show) if the condition of the President is serious,” he said.

“The fact we see him attend his events will show that he is fine. Otherwise, he will not attend,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS