Philippines' president hurt in motorcycle crash
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hurt his hip and suffered scratches in a motorcycle accident, senior aides of the 74-year-old leader said Thursday.
Duterte, whose health has been the subject of intense public speculation, suffered the mishap at the Malacanang presidential palace compound late Wednesday, according to spokesman Salvador Panelo.
The crash came 10 days after Duterte — the oldest person to be elected Philippine president — disclosed he is suffering from myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that could potentially have serious complications.
"The president was reaching for his shoe when he fell off his motorcycle that resulted in a minor injury, particularly light bruises and slight scratches, to his elbow and knee," Panelo said in a statement.
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, his former assistant and close aide, earlier told reporters Duterte had "crashed" and complained of hip pain after the accident, but was not hospitalized.
Panelo, citing Duterte's wife, Cielito Avancena, said the president's injury will not require major treatment and "there is nothing to worry about."
Duterte was trying to park the vehicle after driving around a courtyard, Panelo said, adding the leader was now resting at the palace.
Go later shared a video showing Duterte, wearing formal clothes — without a helmet or other protective gear — riding on a paved drive at night. The actual accident was not shown in the clip.
Panelo declined to explain why there were two versions of the accident, stressing, "Whatever the story is, what is important is he is in good hands — no major injury."
Questions about his health have swirled since he took office in 2016, with Duterte at times skipping events and meetings or discussing his various ailments during long and rambling speeches.
The Philippine constitution requires the handover of power to the vice president if the leader dies or is incapacitated.
Duterte revealed in 2016 that he used to take fentanyl, a powerful painkiller, because of a spinal injury from motorcycle accidents.
(Source: AFP)
Malaysia's PM condemns West’s ‘sheer hypocrisy’ over Gaza genocide
Japan, India criticize Biden for labeling them as 'xenophobic'
Pro-Palestine student protests proliferate across the world
World support for Palestine's UN membership bid shows Israel’s full isolation
VIDEO | Incursion into East Rafah
VIDEO | British role in Gaza
Houthi: West occupies Muslim countries under pretext of fight against terror
US police tear-gass students, arrest dozens as Gaza war protests spread
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
IRGC: Iran's strikes were timely punitive response to Israel's blunder
'Slaughterhouse': Hamas says CNN report on Israeli jail just tip of iceberg
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
