Roque denies rumors Duterte is out of the country

Malacañang on Sunday denied supposed reports that President Rodrigo Duterte has left the country this weekend amid the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

"There is no truth that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte left the country this weekend," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

"The Chief Executive is in the Philippines and closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the country," he added.

However, it was not immediately known where the supposed reports came from.

Duterte is expected to announce on Monday the new quarantine classification of the National Capital Region, as well as of the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal on Monday, a day after the expiration of the imposition of modified enhanced community quarantine in the said areas. 

As of August 15, a total of 157,918 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Philippines, with 2,600 deaths and 72,209 recoveries. —with a report from Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News