MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte canceled his trip to his hometown Davao City so he could continue leading the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said Wednesday.

Panelo said Duterte was supposed to fly to Davao City on Tuesday for the birthday of his youngest daughter Veronica but the 75-year-old leader would instead continue working for the rest of the Holy Week from Bahay Pagbabago, his official residence in Malacañang.

"He will continue to function and perform his duties as President. He will continue to monitor and then give directives, directions sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno sa anumang kaganapan na nangangailangan sa kanyang pagtugon (to all agencies in government for whatever incident needs his response),” Panelo said in a virtual press briefing.

"Dito lang po siya sa Maynila para madaliang mabigyan ng katugunan ang anumang suliranin na ipapaabot sa kanya," he added.

(He will stay in Manila so he can easily respond to concerns.)

Panelo also assured the public that the President remains "fit and healthy." Duterte just finished his self-quarantine on Tuesday.

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