PRRD’s one-on-one interview with Panelo postponed anew

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the 85th Anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at The Forum of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Grounds in Pasay City on December 6, 2018. (PCOO Photo)

MANILA — For the second time, President Rodrigo Duterte’s one-on-one interview with Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo has been rescheduled for next week.

In a video message, Panelo announced that his one-on-one interview with the President set on Tuesday was once again canceled because Duterte is feeling “under the weather.”

“Good evening televiewers and our countrymen. We are sorry that you have to wait for some time for this têtê-a-têtê for the President,” Panelo said.

“However, the President is presently under the weather. He had several meetings yesterday and he had to pore on many documents, hence, he does not feel well today. We will have to move this one-on-one interview with the President perhaps next week,” he added.

Panelo, however, could not tell the exact date of his rescheduled interview with the President.

The one-on-one interview between Duterte and Panelo was originally scheduled on Jan. 22 but was moved to Jan. 28 due to “pressing family matters.”

In an exclusive interview with Russia Today aired on Jan. 24, the 74-year-old President admitted that there are times when he gets tired a “bit” due to “tremendous” stress driven by his heavy workload.

Duterte’s admission came after 72 percent of adult Filipinos expressed worry about his health condition, according to the results of the December 13 to 16 poll by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Duterte has informed the public that he has muscle spasms, chronic back pains, and migraines.

He is also suffering from myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that weakens skeletal muscles responsible for breathing and moving parts of the body.

The President likewise has Barrett’s esophagus, a potentially serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Buerger’s disease, a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs.

Despite his age and health issues, Duterte can still “effectively” fulfill his mandate as the country’s president, Panelo said on January 22.

Panelo’s first têtê-a-têtê with the President was in September 2018.

This year’s televised interview with the President was expected to raise several pressing issues the country is presently facing.

Among the issues that will be tackled during the interview are the suspected cases of deadly 2019 novel coronavirus in the Philippines, the Taal Volcano’s unrest, and the proliferation of prostitution dens catering exclusively to Philippine Gaming Offshore Operators workers, Panelo said in a Palace press briefing earlier Tuesday.