Duterte back to riding a big bike

MANILA — Despite being advised by his doctor to rest and limit his physical activities, President Rodrigo Duterte’s life-long passion for motorcycles continues as he once again went for a 10-minute ride on Thursday night.

Duterte gamely posed for a photo, showing him riding a big bike, along with his former special aide and now Senator Christopher Lawrence Go who shared the photos to the media early Friday morning.

Go said the 74-year-old President went for a night ride at the compound of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in Manila.

“Nag-motor ulit kanina. Mga 10 minutes sa PSG Compound (He went for a ride again [Thursday night] for around 10 minutes at the PSG Compound),” Go said in a text message.

Duterte’s latest motorcycle ride came after his recent fall from his big bike parked at the garage of the PSG compound.

Duterte hurt his hip and sustained light bruises and scratches on the elbow and knee, following the minor mishap on Oct. 16.

The President did not pay much attention to his injury, as he tried Go’s big bike a day after the accident. He, however, did not go for a ride and just inspected the senator’s motorcycle.

When he flew to Japan on October 22, the President realized that the pain in his lower back was intolerable, prompting him to cut short his trip and undergo a medical check-up with his neurologist.

Results of medical examinations found that Duterte is merely having “muscle spasms,” which could be aggravated by his motorcycle accident several years ago and by the minor mishap this month, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Thursday.

The President, nevertheless, is feeling “much better” now, Panelo said.

Panelo assured the public that the President need not undergo any surgical procedure, as he was only prescribed medicines to relieve the pain caused by the cramps.

The President was also advised by his doctor to avoid “standing or walking for long duration”.

Despite having muscle spasms, Duterte on Thursday administered the oath-taking of Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta and had a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua at Malacañan Palace.

Panelo said the public can also expect the President’s “local and foreign” engagements in the following days.