Panelo: ASEAN leaders expressed concern for ‘overworked’ Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte’s regional counterparts expressed concern for his well-being at the recently concluded summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Thailand, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had commented that the 74-year-old Duterte appeared “overworked.”

“May mga comment dun sa mga leaders, ‘Your President looks overworked. Don’t let him work too much.‘ ‘Yun lahat ang mga comment,” Panelo said at a news conference.

Panelo said the Philippine delegation responded that apart from being workaholic, Duterte had a motorcycle accident which “contributed to what you are seeing now.”

The Palace spokesperson added it was up to the President whether the latter will take a break from his usual hectic schedule.

Panelo surmised Duterte would “most likely lessen his volume of work” to ease pressure.

Duterte returned to Manila on Monday night following his attendance at the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s former top aide, earlier said Duterte would take a one-week break after the summit.

The President had scrapes and bruises following a motorcycle accident inside the Presidential Security Group compound within the Malacañang Complex on October 16.

He had to cut short his trip to Japan on October 22, where he attended the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, because of an “unbearable pain” in his spinal column which his doctor said was a case of muscular spasm.

The Palace said the President’s doctor had advised him to take some rest and limit his physical activity. —NB, GMA News