MANILA, Philippines — Before attending his second event at Malacañang yesterday, President Duterte complained of an aching spine.
Duterte apologized to officials of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission for arriving late for their oath-taking.
“My spine is acting up again so I have to pass by the house for my medications,” the President said.
It was not clear where Duterte took his medicine, and what it was. He had earlier admitted taking the powerful opioid fentanyl as a painkiller.
In 2016, Duterte revealed that he has spinal problems and that his doctor had advised him to undergo surgery. But his partner, businesswoman and former nurse Honeylet Avanceña, warned him that many operations on the spine have gone awry.
The 72-year-old Chief Executive has also admitted experiencing migraine every day and suffering from Buerger’s disease, an ailment caused by smoking.