President Rodrigo Duterte has not made any public appearance for close to two weeks now, fuelling speculation that his health is declining, with some even claiming that he has died.
His aides and sources have dismissed the rumours – one was that he had suffered a mild stroke and was taken to Singapore where he purportedly died, another was that plans were being drawn up for a military junta to run the Philippines.
Adding to the fog was a disclosure that his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, flew to Singapore last week.
Senator Christopher Go, who remains Duterte's closest aide and confidant, has been posting photos and short clips that showed himself and Duterte in good health and working in his office in Manila.
"Nothing to worry about. In fact, we are together, and he continues working," said Go.
Photos of Duterte walking as well as sitting on a motorcycle that were taken by Go were shared on social media on (10 April) Saturday.
His spokesman Harry Roque said the President would be addressing the nation on Monday.
Sources also told the media that Duterte was never in Singapore, much less died there.
But the photos showing "proof of life" and reassurances by his aides and ministers have failed to tamp down persistent rumours that his health may be failing.
The last time Duterte was seen in public was on 29 March, when he was on hand to receive the shipment of a million doses of a vaccine made by Chinese firm Sinovac.
He then went on hiatus for the Holy Week.
He was expected to resurface on Wednesday for his weekly televised address. But that was abruptly cancelled following reports that more than 100 of his bodyguards tested positive for COVID-19.
That same day, his daughter, Duterte-Carpio, confirmed that she had flown to Singapore a day earlier with her son, a nanny and a bodyguard.
She declined to say why she went there.
That sparked speculation that Duterte himself could be in Singapore after suffering a mild stroke.
Purported photos of an air ambulance that supposedly flew Duterte to Singapore surfaced, and the hashtag #nasaanangpangulo (Where is the president?) trended on social media.
By Saturday, the nation was abuzz with rumours that he was already dead.
Duterte had disappeared from public view before, each time rekindling talk about his declining health.
His known ailments include back problems, migraines due to nerve damage and Barrett's oesophagus, which affects his throat. He also suffers from Buerger's disease which can cause blockages in the blood vessels.
He has admitted to suffering from an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness and has joked more than once in his speeches that he may have cancer.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes, one of Duterte's harshest critics, said in a post on Twitter that he believes Duterte is not sick.
"He's just lazy," he said.
This article was first featured on 11 April, 2021 in The Straits Times.
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