President Duterte Visits Villamor Air Base, Contrary to Rumors That He is Sick

President Rodrigo Duterte visited Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday, June 15. This is after four days he was last seen in public, and was rumored to be sick. That day, Malacanang released some photos of the the president returning a salute and shaking hands with some personnel of the Philippine Air Force before he left for Davao City.

President Duterte was last seen in public on Sunday, June 11 also at the Villamor Air Base, where he honored the Marines who were killed in Marawi City. However, he did not attend the Independence Day rites in Luneta held the next day, June 12. Since then, pro-Liberal Party (LP) suggested that the president is not sick, and should leave his office.

The opposition party cited Article 7, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that "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.” This means that the public should know the truth.

In case the president is already incapable of performing his duties, the law states that the vice president shall take over his place. As we all know, Vice President Leni Robredo ran under LP, and has not been in good terms with President Duterte. Her ally, Senator Leila de Lima was jailed for her alleged involvement in illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Hours before President Duterte was seen in Villamor Air Base on Thursday, Malacanang released some photos of him along with special assistant to the president, Christopher 'Bong' Go. The photos were said to be taken at Bahay Pagbabago. This was confirmed by ANC, as a TV set behind Duterte was seen showing news about the Grenfell Tower fire.



On the same day, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella assured the public that President Duterte is 100% healthy. "The president needs rest. You have to consider that he has been on the road for at least 23 days regarding fulfilling his martial law supervisions. It has been really brutal so we have to allow him this kind of rest," he said.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao