MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has “pressing commitments” to attend to, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday, after the Chief Executive skipped his event in Palo, Leyte.

Año’s statement was contrary to former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go’s explanation that Duterte was “not feeling well.”

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“Ang nakarating sa akin is I should represent the President because of some pressing commitment so siguro kasama na rin siguro doon ‘yon,” Año told reporters after his speech at the Barangay Peace and Order Summit in Palo town.

Asked about his conflicting statement with Go, he said: “Probably the best person to ask is the spokesperson of the President.”

READ: Duterte not ‘feeling well,’ skips Leyte event

“I am not the spokesperson of the President. I cannot answer that kind of question. That’s for Secretary Panelo,” Año added.

Sought for clarification on their conflicting statements, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a text message said the President also canceled his “pressing commitment.”

“Even that pressing commitment was canceled. Sec Año didn’t know that,” he explained.

Like Go, Panelo earlier said the President won’t be able to attend the Leyte event because the chief executive was “not feeling well” but that it should not be a cause of concern.

“Well he is not Superman; every person does not feel well sometimes. I don’t feel well now and I’m also cancelling my appointment later this afternoon. I don’t think that the President cancelling an event in (Palo) because he is not feeling well is a cause of concern,” Panelo said in a text message.

“We should, in fact, commend the President for knowing when to cancel a trip and resting his body if he is not feeling his usual strong self,” he added. /kga

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