Duterte to take one-week break after ASEAN Summit, says Bong Go

President Rodrigo Duterte will be taking a week-long break when he returns to the country after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit from November 2 to 4 in Bangkok, Thailand, Senator Bong Go said Thursday.

“He (Duterte) was advised to rest in the coming days so kailangan magpahinga ang ating Pangulo at nag-usap kami kagabi, pagkatapos ng ASEAN trip niya magpapahinga muna siya  for one week,” Go told reporters.

“One week ang gustong pahinga ng ating mahal na Pangulo para naman po gumaling ‘yung sakit na nararamdaman niya sa likod niya dahil sa pagkadisgrasya sa motor,” he added.

Go said Duterte will spend his one week break in Davao, but he will still continue his work from there.

“Sa Davao lang po, sa bahay niya, mas makakapahinga siya doon, mas nakakatulog siya doon. Tuloy tuloy po (ang trabaho). He will not take a leave of absence,” he said.

The President had to cut short his trip to Japan Tuesday for the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito as he complained of "unbearable pain" in his spinal column near the pelvic area.

Go earlier said Duterte went to the doctor after visiting the wake of the late Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., founder of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, upon his arrival from Japan. 

Duterte was found to be suffering from severe lumbar muscle spasms.

The senator said the President will attend his appointments this week and will go to Davao during the weekend to rest.

“Sa Davao lang po siya. Kailangan niya ng pahinga, ‘wag muna masyadong igalaw ‘yung likod niya,” he said. —LDF, GMA News