PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is feeling under the weather on Monday, April 22, because of his "punishing schedule," prompting him to skip the opening ceremony of the Boao forum in Taguig City, MalacaƱang said.
Duterte was initially scheduled to attend the forum, but Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was the one who delivered the Chief Executive's keynote speech.
The President failed to attend the forum because his ruling party's "successive" campaign sorties made him feel unwell, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
"He is not feeling well due to his punishing schedule and successive campaign sorties," Pabelo said, explaining Duterte's absence from the Boao forum.
"That's the reason. Overworked," he added.
The Boao forum aims to further bolster cooperation among leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China in relation to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
Panelo said Duterte is in his hometown Davao City to rest when an earthquake was felt in Luzon.
A tectonic earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.1, hit two kilometers northeast of Castillejos in Zambales at 5:11 p.m. Monday.
The quake also was also felt in some parts of Luzon, including Manila.
"He was in his Davao residence when the earthquake struck," Panelo said. (SunStar Philippines)