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Duterte misses riding his motorbike

Philippines | National

Duterte misses riding his motorbike

By Genalyn Kabiling

The public can make their own conclusion about President Duterte's health after some photos showed him gearing up for a motorbike ride, Malacañang said Thursday.

(photo from Sen. Bong Go Facebook)

"Res ipsa loquitur po - the things speaks for itself," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a televised briefing when asked if the President's motorbike photos should dispel doubts about his health condition.

"So hayaan ninyo na pong makita iyan ng taumbayan (Let the public see them) and they can make their own conclusions about the President’s health," he added.

On Wednesday night, the President's former assistant and now Senator Christopher Go released photos of Duterte sitting on one of the motorbikes parked at the Presidential Security Group compound in Manila. The President was supposedly raring to take the motorcycle out for a spin but his security aides discouraged him.

"Gusto na talagang Mag Motor ni Tatay Digong! Sobrang nami-miss nya ang pag sakay! Muntik ng di maawat ng PSG! (The President really wants to ride a motorcycle. He really misses riding a motorcycle. The PSG almost could not stop him)," Go said in a Facebook post.

The President's movement has been limited as the PSG has enforced stricter health and security protocols to ensure his safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

In October 2019, the President suffered bruises and scratches following a motorcycle accident at the Palace compound. Duterte, feeling the pain from the motorcycle fall, was forced to cut short his visit to Japan. He was later diagnosed with having muscle spasm and has been advised by his doctors to rest and take medication.

Despite his motorcycle accident, Duterte previously admitted that he would rather die than stop riding motorcycles.

"Hindi ako maghihinto. Dahil pag maghihinto ako, mabuti na lang mamatay ako. Wala na eh. Kung wala na rin kaligayahan buhay mo, wala ka na magawa. Mabuti mamamatay ka ," he said back in 2019.

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