‘Much better’ Duterte wants to ‘rest for a week’
Credit to Author: Catherine S. Valente, TMT| Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2019 16:37:47 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is “feeling much better,” Malacañang said on Thursday, although Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go revealed that the Chief Executive would “rest for a week” following a motorcycle accident at the Palace last week.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo allayed public fears on the physical condition of the President, who was diagnosed with muscle spasms after he underwent a magnetic resonance imaging and medical evaluation on Wednesday.
“As the public already knows, the Chief Executive suffered from a motorcycle accident several years ago, and from another minor mishap involving the same type of motor vehicle just last Thursday, October 17. The attending doctor said that there is a strong likelihood that these incidents may have caused or possibly aggravated the current pain he is suffering from in his lower back,” Panelo said.
“The President was advised by his doctor to rest, as well as to take medicines that will relieve him of the pain caused by the muscular spasms. His doctor ruled out any surgical procedure,” he added.
He said the President was advised by doctors to “rest for a couple of days and limit his physical activity, particularly avoiding standing or walking for long duration.”
“The President is presently feeling much better,” the spokesman added.
Duterte, 74, cut short his visit to Japan and returned to Manila on Tuesday night after he complained of “unbearable pain in his spinal column” less than a week after his motorcycle accident.
Go, Duterte’s trusted top aide before he became senator, revealed to media on Thursday that the President wanted to go home to Davao City, where he would stay for a week to rest his “aching back” although he won’t take a leave of absence.
“Mas nakakapahinga siya at nakakatulog doon (He can rest and sleep better there),” said Go during his visit to fire victims in Sta. Cruz, Manila, where he offered financial assistance, grocery packages, free treatment for their injuries at Malasakit Centers and money to those who wished to return to their provinces.
WITH JOSHUA VERA CRUZ