Duterte ‘safe, in good health’ after motorcycle accident, Palace assures

MANILA, Philippines — Palace has assured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte is “safe” and “in good health” despite sustaining “slight bruises” after he figured in a motorcycle mishap inside the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Compound Wednesday night.

“I would like to assure the nation that the President is safe, in good hands and in good health,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Thursday in a press briefing.

Panelo said the President fell off when he reached for his shoe which resulted in “slight bruises” on his elbow and knee.

“There was an accident, we confirm that, last night. He rode in his motorcycle, but after he parked his motorcycle, his shoes were naipit (stuck) so he was trying to reach for it. Natumba siya (He fell). So he had slight bruise in the elbow and in the knee. Okay na siya, okay naman siya (He’s okay),” Panelo said.

Panelo added Duterte will not be needing a check-up after the mishap since he only sustained minor scratches.

“No. Galos lang e. Scratch, kumabaga scratch (It was just a scratch),” Panelo said when asked if Duterte will see a doctor following the accident.

Duterte’s former aide and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go earlier broke the news of the President’s motorcycle accident inside the PSG compound. /je

READ: Duterte falls off motorcycle in PSG compound, says Go