THE results of President Rodrigo Duterte’s medical consultation with a neurologist on Wednesday, October 23, would be made public, Malacañang assured.
“The public need not be apprehensive about the President's health. His consultation with a doctor is aimed at determining the medical condition of his body, as well as finding out whether his previous spinal injury from a past motorcycle accident has been aggravated by his recent fall,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
“The President shall inform our countrymen on the result of his medical consultation,” he added.
The 74-year-old President, who is suffering from "unbearable" back pain following a motorcycle fall, is expected to see his neurologist on Wednesday afternoon.
Duterte cut short his Japan trip on Tuesday, October 22, due to the pain. He had gone to Tokyo to witness Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony.
Duterte returned to Manila late Tuesday evening and went straight to the wake of the late Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.
Panelo said the President, accompanied by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, was welcomed by Lourdes Pimentel, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, and Commissioner of Human Rights Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, among other members and friends of the late senator's family.
“Notwithstanding his trip to Japan being cut short due to a searing pain in the spinal pelvic area of his body, the President was able to endure the same and headed from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to the wake of former Senate President Aquilino 'Nene' Pimentel, Jr.,” Panelo said.
“He (Duterte) considers [Pimentel] as a personal friend and recognizes [the latter] as having contributed valuable service to the country as a public servant, at the Heritage Park in Taguig to pay his last respects and condole with the latter's loved ones,” Panelo added.
Duterte is the chairman of the PDP-Laban political party, which Pimentel had co-founded. (NASE/SunStar Philippines)