Poe on Duterte’s health: He looks strong
SAN CARLOS CITY—Re-electionist Sen. Grace Poe said President Duterte also deserves to take a break from his busy schedule in reaction to reports that the Chief Executive underwent a medical checkup over the weekend in an unannounced Hong Kong trip.
And when asked to comment about Duterte’s health condition by local newsmen when she came to the Pangasinan State University-San Carlos City campus here on Feb. 19 for a student forum, Poe said, “Huh? Mukha namang malakas sya, di ba? (He looks healthy, right?)”
Poe, who was one of Duterte’s presidential opponents in the 2016 elections, defended him against his critics. “I mean nag-relax, kailangan naman natin lahat yun pero sa dinami-dami ng tsismis, malakas naman sya eh (He relaxed, we all need that but of all the gossips, he is strong).”
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed the President went to Hong Kong for a medical check-up.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte made the Hong Kong trip for recreation and to celebrate the birthday of his companion, Ms. Honeylet Avanceña.
Meanwhile, Poe said she was happy to be back at her late father’s city here as part of her campaign trail. “It always feels great to be home,” she said.
“It gladdens my heart because this is my father’s home city and people accept me here wholeheartedly,” Poe told local newsmen after her student forum.
Poe said she is one of the few senatorial candidates who has Pangasinan roots. The family of her late dad, Philippines’ movie king Fernando Poe Jr, was from Barangay Caoayan Kiling this city.
She added that running as an independent candidate is difficult, unlike being aligned with political groups like Hugpong ng Pagbabagong or Otso Diretso, whose mobilization is easy.
“I am alone but the beauty of being on my own is I can freely go around and in schools, I can relate better with the students because as my mother said,” Don’t be shy to ask” so that is also something I often tell students while I’m with them,” Poe said.
Poe was referring to the tagline of a commercial of her mother, showbiz actress Susan Roces that says, “Huwag mahihiyang magtanong (Don’t be shy to ask)”.
Poe also went to the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation in the city and in Bayambang town for a multi-sectoral dialogue. (PhilStar Wire Service)
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