MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday rejected rumors that President Rodrigo R. Duterte was rushed to the hospital after his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, noting that he was in good health.
“There is no truth to the rumors that the President was rushed to the hospital. The President is in Davao, there is no truth. It is tsismis (gossip), it is fake news,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Roque pointed out that Duterte has not been to any medical facility after his routine checkup at Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Sunday night before his SONA.
“The President is fine, although he went to have a regular checkup the night before the SONA. He has not been to any medical facility since,” Roque said.
Roque also warned the public from spreading fake news stressing that it was also considered a “crime.”
In fact, Roque said Duterte will be present during the Araw ng Ipil celebration to prove that reports were not true.
“Please, it is in fact a crime to spread this kind of news. There is no truth to this rumors and he will in fact be here in Ipil to lead the celebration for Araw ng Ipil. So his appearance will belie all these false reports,” Roque said.
Earlier, Roque said Duterte’s checkup in Cardinal Santos Medical Center lasted for an hour and a half and he was declared to be in good health.