President Duterte remained healthy to discharge his duties as the country's leader and looked forward to receiving a Chinese-developed vaccine, Malacañang said Monday, March 29.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured the nation about the President's health after Duterte turned a year older on March 28.
Duterte spent his 76 birthday Sunday at home with his family in Davao City. He is expected to return to Manila to welcome the arrival of the 1 million Sinovac vaccines bought by the government at the Manila airport Monday.
"He's as healthy as any 76-year-old person could be. He retains to have a very active calendar and he continues to discharge the functions of the presidency at a time of the pandemic," Roque said about the President over ANC's Headstart Monday morning.
Roque also dispelled speculations that the President has already been inoculated against the coronavirus disease.
"I don't think so. That's why he is very keen on having Sinopharm enter the country," he said.
The President earlier expressed preference for the Sinopharm vaccine after his doctor advised a vaccine suitable for his old. The Palace had said the President would wait for the emergency use authorization to be given to Sinopharm by local drug regulators before getting vaccinated.
Since the start of the pandemic last year, the President’s security team enforced tighter protocols in his limited activities in and outside the Palace to ensure his health and safety. The protocols included rigid coronavirus testing for people before meeting the President.