President Rodrigo Duterte went on an unscheduled trip to Hong Kong with his family on Saturday, three days after disclosing he had a medical examination.
In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go uploaded photos of the President along with his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Kitty.
“Before fake news spreads, the President also needs time to rest,” Go said in his post.
He included another set of photos of Duterte shopping for clothes.
Go made his statement even as Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea defended Duterte’s unscheduled trip to Hong Kong.
“He has been working since June 30, 2016. Can they not allow him a weekend break?” Medialdea said in a text message.
Go, who accompanied Duterte, said they arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday morning, contradicting the statement of Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
Around 5 pm of the same day, Roque said Duterte was staying in his hometown in Davao City.
The 73-year-old President, however, stayed at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong in Wan Chai and was due to leave for home at 6 pm on Sunday.
