Ex-Pres. Duterte says he hit his aide in minor motorcycle accident

Former president Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday that he recently experienced vertigo and figured in a motorcycle accident. 

Duterte made the disclosure when he addressed his PDP-Laban party mates during the PDP-Laban National Assembly held in Pasay City.

"Nadisgrasya kasi ako...nagkaroon ako ng vertigo noong isang araw. [At] nag motor [rin ako], nadisgrasya na naman ako. I had two minor accidents," Duterte, who is 77 years old, said.

"I drove on the highway..tsk...nabunggo ko iyong security ko. Sabi ko kasi do not run a stride with me, because my peripheral vision...l was looking at a distance; sabi ko, diyan lang kayo sa likod," Duterte, whose six-year term as President ended last June 30, said.

(I collided with my security aide. I told them not to run a stride with me, because my peripheral vision...I told them to stay behind me.)

"Nabunggo ko iyong security ko. Mabuti after the MRI [magnetic resonance imaging], lahat lahat, okay naman siya. Lumipad talaga [siya] eh," Duterte added.

(I collided with him. Good thing that after the MRI and everything, he was fine. He really flew.)

Duterte then said his allies have since discouraged him from riding the motorcycle again, but he says he still needs to give it a go.

"At that time, ayaw na ng mga security, iyang si Bingbong. Pero kapag napasukan na ng kaba, [dapat] sumakay ka ulit," Duterte said, referring to former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.

(My security, Bingbong, said I should not do it again. But if the nerves get into you, you need to give it a go again.)

"Kasi kung hindi ka sasakay ulit, forever ka na matakot eh," Duterte added.

(Otherwise, the nerves will stick with you.) — BM, GMA News