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#NasaanAngPangulo trends after 4 days of ‘taking time off to rejuvenate’

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After skipping the 119th Independence Day Rites this Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte has never been seen in public since as he is said to be “just taking some time off to rejuvenate,” according to Malacañang.
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On Thursday, Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said that the 72-year-old President is “well” despite his absence, adding that it should be taken into account how Duterte had a “brutal” schedule.

“After all, you have to consider that he has been on the road for at least 23 days, fulfilling his martial law supervision, so it has been really brutal, so we have to allow him this kind of rest,” Abella told the media during the regular press briefing.

“He’s just tired,” he added.
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Abella said that Duterte was not suffering from any “major sickness,” although he added that he was not privy whether the President consulted a doctor for any health issues.

Duterte skipped the June 12 events because he was said to be resting. He took another “rest day” on June 13, according to Abella. On June 14, Rappler reported that a Palace source said Duterte had at least one private meeting on June 14. His schedule on that day did not involve any public events as he was supposed to fly back to Davao City. However, Abella said that Duterte is still in Manila and may go home to Davao City any time this week.

Days before the Independence Day celebration, the President was indeed busy, mostly visiting soldiers in Mindanao. On June 11, he went to Cagayan de Oro to visit soldiers wounded in the Marawi crisis. Later that day, he flew to Manila for the arrival of the remains of the slain Philippine Marines at the Villamor Air Base, still from the Marawi clashes.

Since he declared martial law in Mindanao, Duterte has been busy visiting military camps, wakes, and hospitals.

Rappler noted that the only other time Duterte was not seen in public for an extended period of time was from February 13 to 15, when he flew to Davao City to rest and spend time with his family.

Abella could not give an exact date of the President’s next public engagement.

Press about Duterte’s condition, Abella said, “I’m talking about his general sickness condition. I’m saying there is nothing to worry about in terms of sickness, major sickness, but what I’m saying is that considering the schedule he has been given, he needs to rest. You do need to rest, don’t you?”

Opposition’s reaction

Opposition lawmakers called on Duterte to explain his “unusual” absence from the public eye.

“The absence of the President from the public is very unusual especially there is still an ongoing crisis in Marawi. Much more to be absent for a week without explanation except to rest,” Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano told Congress reports via group message.

“People cannot help but speculate about the status of president’s health. Malacañang should be forthright in informing the public about this. [The] President’s health is a national security issue,” he added.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat agreed with Alejano.

“The President’s health is a national concern. Transparency is a must,” he said.

Netizens are looking for Duterte

In the afternoon of June 15, #NasaanAngPangulo trends on Twitter.

#NasaanAngPangulo

Writer Irish Dizon, @IrishDDizon, said that if it were Vice President Leni Robredo who has gone missing for 60 hours, the DDS, or Duterte’s supporters, would have raised a “sh*t storm.”

Some lamented just why the Palace “can’t give straight answers” and not give proof.

Twitter user @cocoy is even asking for a video of the President after several fake news from government officials.

@EliasSimoun suggested that people should look for the Special Assistant to the President Bong Go.

Some slammed the excuse that Duterte was still sleeping, causing him to miss the Independence Day rites on Monday, with one even suggesting that the country’s slogan should now be, “Gising, Bayan!”

@naynab15 recalled how the same thing happened in last year’s Independence Day celebration in Davao City, too.

And this meme, of course.

@D0D0NNA also brought up Section 12 of Article VII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which states, “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health. The members of the Cabinet in charge of national security and foreign relations and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall not be denied access to the President during such illness.”

Amidst speculations about the President’s health, Palace sent these two photos of Duterte poring over documents and standing with Go.

Sources: ( gmanetwork.com , rappler.com , news.abs-cbn.com , newsinfo.inquirer.net )
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