PRRD in ‘good condition’ despite back pain: Bong Go

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte strikes his signature pose with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, as they prepare to head to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan for the Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito on October 22, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Despite suffering from “unbearable” back pain after figuring in a minor motorcycle accident last week, President Rodrigo Duterte is still in “good condition”.

Duterte’s former aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, made this assurance by sharing a Facebook live video of the President while inside his car.

“Kapatid nating Pilipino, pauwi na ang ating mahal na Pangulo papuntang Pilipinas. Wag kayo mag-alala (To our Filipino brothers and sisters, our dear President is now on his way back to the Philippines. Don’t worry),” Go said in a live video on his official Facebook account.

Go then moved his cellphone camera to show the President who admitted that he was in pain because of the motorcycle accident.

“Magandang gabi po sainyo mga kababayan ko, mga Pilipino. Alam mo, about four days ago, sumemplang ako sa motor. E pag naka-motor ka, talagang once or twice sa buhay mo makatikim talaga ng semplang.

Lahat ng nagmo-motor sumesemplang. Kagaya sa akin (Good evening my Fellow Filipinos. You know, about four days ago, I fell off my motor. If you ride a motor, you will really experience falling off once or twice in your life. All motorcycle riders fall off. Just like me),” Duterte said.

“Ang ano lang, parang hindi ko matiis yung sa belt banda. Mga three inches. Medyo masakit. Eh nag toothbrush ako kanina pag gising ko, talagang… (I really couldn’t bear the pain around the belt area. About three inches. It’s quite painful. I brushed my teeth after I woke up this morning, it’s really…),” he added.

No stopping the President

Go shared a second Facebook live video where he apologized that the first video got cut and showed how the President was still leafing through photos of motorcycles despite being in pain.

He also assured that the President is still in good condition and thanked his supporters for their concern.

“Sa mga kapatid nating Pilipino wag kayong mag-alala, nasa mabuting kalagayan ang ating mahal na pangulo. Nandito pa, nagbabasa ng kaniyang mga paboritong litrato ng motor (To our Filipino brothers and sisters, don’t worry. Our dear President is in good condition. He’s looking through his favorite photos of motorcycles),” Go said.

The former aide said not even back pain could make the President give up his fondness for motorcycles.

“At hindi pa rin daw siya titigil mag-motor dahil hindi raw siya mabubuhay kung hindi raw siya magmo-motor. Ayun o, motor pa rin ang tinitignan. Kahit masakit na yung likod niya ay motor pa rin ang nasa isipan niya (And he won’t stop riding motorcycles because he won’t live if he can’t ride one. See, he still continues to look at photos of motorcycles. Even if his back aches, he still thinks about motorcycles),” Go said.

“Salamat po sa lahat ng nagmamahal kay mayor Duterte, sa lahat ng kapatid nating Pilipino.

Mahal po kayo ni Pangulo (Thank you to all supporters who love the President, our Filipino brothers and sisters. The President loves you),” he added.

Because of his back pain, Duterte had to cut short his official visit to Japan to fly back to the Philippines on Tuesday night and have a checkup with his neurologist the following day.

The President, however, was still able to attend the historic enthronement ceremonies of Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace but needed a cane to assist his walking.

Because he will return earlier than expected, Duterte requested his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, to attend the Emperor’s banquet on his behalf on Tuesday evening.