Duterte wears ‘air purifier’ as protection from coughs, colds — Palace

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the 42nd Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace on October 11, 2019. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Media has been noticing a white rectangular gadget that President Rodrigo Duterte has been wearing like a necklace lately.

On Friday, October 18, the Chief Executive was spotted wearing it again as he welcomed Indian President Ram Nath Kovind who arrived in the country for a five-day state visit.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo explained in a text message to reporters that the device hanging from the President’s neck was actually an “air purifier,” saying that it was meant to protect the latter “from persons within his proximity who have coughs and colds.”

As per reports, the gadget is an AirTamer, which purifies air “by removing airborne pollutants,” such as viruses, bacteria, pollen, and dust, away from one’s personal space, according to airtamer.com

Photos from the Palace showed that Duterte also wears the portable air purifier in his other engagements. He had the device with him during the 45th Philippine Business Conference and Expo on Thursday, his meeting with Filipino athletes and the launching of a coal power plant on October 16.

He also wore it as he presided over the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) Command Conference and during his meeting with the Philippine contingent to the 46th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program on October 15.

Duterte also used the device during the 42nd Cabinet meeting last October 11.

The health condition of the 74-year-old Philippine leader has been the subject of much speculation.

Recently, he admitted that he has a myasthenia gravis, which he described as “nerve malfunction.”

[READ: Duterte says he has a nerve malfunction]

Apart from this, he earlier disclosed that he was suffering from Barrett’s esophagus, Buerger’s disease, and nerve damage from a motorcycle accident.

Just last Wednesday, the President got into a motorcycle accident on Malacañang grounds which resulted in a minor injury, according to Panelo.

He said that Duterte acquired light bruises and slight scratches to his elbow and knee.

Despite this, the spokesman assured the public that there is nothing to worry about as Duterte’s recovery “entails no major medical procedure.”