Malacañang said President Duterte was just joking when he raised the possibility of having cancer in one of his speeches this week.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after President Duterte mentioned having cancer when he coughed in the middle of his speech in Tacloban City, Leyte on Thursday.
"Progressive, baka cancer na ang p***** i** (It's progressive, maybe it's cancer already)," Duterte said.
"Nakarma na doon sa (It's karma for)—" he added, not finishing his sentence.
In his Friday presser, Roque said that based on his observation, the President was just joking about his health condition.
"On the basis of what I saw also on TV, I would say nagbibiro naman po ang Presidente (that the President was just joking)," he said.
"I think that's really a joke of the President and should not be taken to mean na may cancer talaga siya," he added.
The Palace official said he was not aware of any information that would worry the public but assured the people that the President will inform them of any serious illness.
"I have no reason-- I do not have any information na dapat mag-alala tayo (that we should worry)," Roque said.
"Ang Presidente naman po ay abogado, susunod po siya sa Saligang Batas. Kung meron siyang seryosong karamdaman, ipagbibigay alam niya po 'yan sa publiko (The President is a lawyer and he will follow the Constitution. If he is seriously ill, he will inform the public)," he added.
Meanwhile, Roque said Duterte does not have any out-of-town trips scheduled for the Holy Week.
"Sa nakikita ko naman pong schedule, wala naman pong further engagement na nakasulat sa kanyang schedule. Puro Palasyo lang po siya (From what I see, he has no further engagement in his schedule. He will just be in the Palace)," he said.
"He will have his regular 'Talk to the People' on Monday at marami pong meeting sa Palasyo. Pero wala na po siyang out of town (and many other meetings in the Palace. But he will have no out-of-town engagements)," he added.
Despite the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), President Duterte has resumed his usual pre-pandemic public engagements but his events are limited to areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).