President Aquino is healthy, says Palace official

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the launching of the Bohol Fabrication Laboratory (FABLAB) Shared Service Facility Project and the 1st FABLAB Asian Network Boot Camp and Conference at the Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Friday (May 02). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III is in good health and can perform all his functions as the country’s chief executive, a Palace official said Friday.

“The President consults his personal physicians on a very regular basis. And I was told by one of them that: ‘Yes, he is, generally, in good health,'” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte during the daily press briefing in Malacanang.

Valte was responding to a reporter’s question if President Aquino has recently undergone a medical examination, following the White House’s release of the report on United States President Barack Obama’s periodic physical examination. President Obama has been given a clean bill of health.

Whenever President Aquino feels uncomfortable about something, such as colds or stomach pains, he consults his physicians, Valte said.

Asked about the President’s coughing, especially while delivering speeches, the spokesperson said the President has mentioned about having allergies.

“His staff makes sure that when he is visiting an area outside the Palace, sinisiguro nila na hindi naman matri-trigger iyong allergies ng Pangulo. But, you know, that cannot happen all the time,” she said.

The Palace official also said there has been no discussion on releasing the President’s medical assessment.

“Kapag nagkakasakit naman ang Pangulo, sinasabi naman natin, like if he has to take a day off because he has flu. We do inform the public because we are aware that it is one of the things that we have to do,” she said.