Duterte to continue working against doctors’ advice

President Duterte will continue to work and still receive visitors in Malacañang, although he had been avised by his doctors to rest the whole week after cutting short his Japan trip Tuesday due to unbearable back pain.

Neophyte Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, a former Special Assistant to the President, said an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test showed that the President only had muscle spasms.

Asked what hospital undertook the MRI on the President after coming from Japan and dropping briefly at the wake of former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. at the Heritage Park in Taguig City, Go simply said: “Secret.”

The President cut short his visit to Japan because of intense back pain, most likely caused by his fall from a motorcycle at the Malacañang grounds last week.

But Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III does not believe the President’s motorcycle fall

hurt his spine.

Had his spine been affected, the President could not have walked, he said.

Both Go and Sotto said the President’s ailment is not “life-threatening.”

Go said the President would go on with his schedule such as meeting Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua.

He also said the President would attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting in Thailand from November 2 to 4.

Go brushed off reports Duterte was not met by ranking Japanese officials during his arrival.

He said there were 200 world leaders during the enthronement of Japanese Emperor Naruhito last Tuesday.