PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte didn’t show up Monday night for his regular weekly national address, and he may not be around for the rest of the week, says his spokesperson Harry Roque.
Roque said Duterte’s scheduled public address will have to be rescheduled for next week. He would say why.
The Palace mouthpiece on Monday said that there is nothing wrong with the President missing his weekly public address scheduled every Monday night – or Wednesday — if the regular Cabinet meeting falls on a Monday.
He said that changes do happen, apparently referring to the rescheduling of Duterte’s regular Monday address.
Aside from missing this week’s public address, Roque also hinted at the possibility that the President may no longer be physically around to welcome the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
“Sinabi po ni Presidente na iyong huling pagdating ng Sinovac eh baka iyon na rin po iyong huli niyang pagsalubong sa mga bakuna bagama’t inaasahan natin na sunud-sunod na po ang pagdating ng mga bakuna,” Roque said.
“Ang inaasahan naman niya ay sunud-sunod na iyong pagdating, so it will just be, kumbaga, matter of course na marami nang bakunang darating ‘no as supplies ease up worldwide. So iyon lang po ‘yun, hindi na siya physically na pupunta sa airport para salubungin iyong mga bakuna,” Roque added.
Duterte usually addressed the nation on the government’s pandemic-related programs or in several instances unleash nasty remarks against the administration’s critics.