President Rodrigo Duterte will be back at Malacañang Palace due to his “very busy” schedule next week, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said.
Despite his doctor’s advice for him to take a rest, the 74-year-old President is too “hardworking and workaholic” that he could not resist from doing his job, Go told Palace reporters on the sidelines of the launching of the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
“Kahit sabihin mong he was advised by the doctor to rest, ayaw pa rin niyang magpahinga. Hindi po siya makatagal sa bahay at talagang gusto niyang magtrabaho at gumala (Even if he was advised by the doctor to rest, he doesn’t want to rest. He could not stay at home for a long time because he wants to do his job and visit some areas in the country),” said Go, former special aide of Duterte.
“At sa susunod na linggo, mas lalong very busy si Pangulo (Next week, the President will have a very busy schedule),” he added.
Duterte, Go said, would take on a heavy workload, based on his grueling schedule next week.
On Friday, Duterte is also scheduled to meet farmers in North Cotabato to “listen to their grievances,” Go added.
The Chief Executive is working from the comforts of his home in Davao City since Monday to avoid “distractions” in Manila.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced on Monday that Duterte would take a three-day break beginning Monday, but clarified on the same day that the President has instead opted to work from home in Davao City.
The public should understand that Davao City is Duterte’s “comfort zone,” Go said.
Go, nevertheless, guaranteed that the President remains in the pink of health.
“At ‘yung bahay niya sa Davao, nandoon po ‘yung comfort zone niya. Nandoon po ‘yung kwarto na maliit, nandoon ‘yung muskitero niya kung saan siya kumportableng matulog (He’s home in Davao, that’s his comfort zone. His small room and mosquito net make him sleep comfortably),” the senator said.
“Doon po siya nakakapagpahinga, at the same time, nagtatrabaho. Ginagawa niya ‘to noon pa, hindi lang ngayon (That’s the place where he can rest, at the same time, work. He’s doing that in the past). And rest assured, he is okay,” he added.
Duterte has suffered lower back pain triggered by his minor motorcycle accident that happened at the Presidential Security Compound’s garage in Manila on October 16.
The 74-year-old President, after consulting his neurologist on October 22, found that the pain in his lower spine and pelvis was caused by muscle spasms.
But despite his health condition, Duterte’s continues prioritizing the welfare of his fellow Filipinos, Go said.
“Kahit na sabihin niyong three days siyang wala rito, maya-maya bigla iyan, sasabihin niya, ‘Oh tara, lipad tayo. Punta tayo ng Jolo o punta tayo ng Zamboanga, may bibisitahin ako doon, ‘yung mga sundalo’ (Even if he’s not here for three days, you’d be surprised, he would ask us to go to Jolo or Zamboanga to visit the soldiers),” he said.
“So hindi naman siya kailangang mag-leave at nagtatrabaho talaga siya… So ganoon po si Pangulo (He doesn’t need to go on leave because he’s really working. That’s how the President works),” Go added. (PNA)
