Manila: President Benigno Aquino has been coughing during a campaign trail in southern Luzon, prompting a spokesman to clarify that Aquino remained in the “pink of health”.
“There is nothing wrong with the president. There are no indications of any illness,” said Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
Aquino will not stop campaigning for the Liberal Party’s senatorial candidates for the next two weeks before the May 13 elections, said Lacierda, adding that it is natural for the president to campaign for candidates of the ruling party.
“This is a campaign for reform. We still have three more years left in this administration and he wants these three years to be even more productive than the first three,” said Lacierda.
His voice was hoarse and he coughed severely six times during a political campaign in Lucena, Quezon, a TV report showed.
“I am asking for forgiveness ahead of this speech. I have a cold but I will try to clearly enunciate what I want to say [in this campaign speech],” said Aquino.
He reminded his audience about the advice of Health Secretary Enrique Ona who had earlier asked him to get some rest.
Aquino has been asked to stop smoking. But he said smoking relaxes him and he is not willing to give it up.
