Mindanews: Duterte takes oath, then sick leave

Following his proclamation, reelected Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took a 10-day sick leave effective Friday to undergo medical tests and treatment in Manila. Online news site MindaNews (www.mindanews.com) reported Saturday that Duterte earlier said he would take a leave to undergo major surgery after his inauguration June 30. But Duterte, who announced his 10-day leave Friday, said he has been experiencing pain in his upper spinal column resulting from a motorcycle accident many years ago. He said this was aggravated in a recent accident near the Bangkerohan market. He said the pain was bearable when he was younger “but recently, I am having a hard time moving around." Duterte’s aides said he needed a “major orthopedic operation." City administrator Wendell Avisado said the mayor chose the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital in Quezon City for medical examinations and possible treatment. He said medical bulletins would be released as they come. Avisado said they were confident Duterte would make it to his inauguration. Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan will be the acting mayor from June 8 to 22, the period of Duterte’s absence. Duterte will report to office on June 23, the day the city government would implement its ordinance banning aerial spraying. The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) has contested the ordinance before the Regional Trial Court here and has filed for a temporary injunction. Duterte’s critics claimed his leave may be a scheme to usher in his daughter, vice mayor-elect Sara Duterte, as chief executive of the city. - GMANews.TV