Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) — President Rodrigo Duterte stayed true to character during his final State of the Nation Address by making a joke about possibly contracting COVID-19, a disease that has killed close to 30,000 Filipinos.
Two hours into his speech, he started talking about the unexpected health crisis that hit his presidency. He started stammering then touching his neck as if to check if he has a fever, one of the symptoms of COVID-19.
“Hindi na ako maka-pronounce nang mabuti, baka meron na ako. May ambulansya ba diyan? Mukhang iba na, I cannot pronounce the words. I hope this is not a symptomatic (sic),” he said.
[Translation: I cannot pronounce properly. Maybe I have it. Is there an ambulance here? This is different, I cannot pronounce the words. I hope this is not a symptom.]
Towards the end of his nearly three-hour speech, he said he is out of breath — another symptom of COVID-19 — and said his heart is starting to beat differently.
“Naghihingal ako, baka dito ako mamatay pagka-presidente. Iba na ang pitik ng ano ko, kasing-kasing ko, puso,” the president said.
[Translation: I am gasping for air. I might die here. My heart is beating in a different way.]
The 76-year-old chief executive’s health has always been a public concern. In April, his spokesman said Duterte remains “fit and healthy” for his age amid speculations of poor health after he canceled his regular public address twice that week.
