Duterte: No to spine surgery in US or Singapore

DAVAO CITY – Re-elected Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he would rather bear the pain in his spine than seek treatment in the United States or Singapore.

“I have researched my illness on the Internet and I found out that the best treatment would either be in the US or in Singapore,” he said.

He said he learned about his spine injury after undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure and that his doctors advised him to undergo surgery to get rid of the recurring pain which makes it difficult for him to move around.

Duterte, however, said he would not apply for a US visa as he has been rejecting since 2001 proposals to hold the Philippine-US Balikatan military exercise in Davao City or elsewhere in Southern Mindanao despite alleged pressures from Malacañang.

“I have made up my mind. I’m not going to ask for any US visa for this purpose. It is a matter of principle,” he said.

He argued that the presence of US troops in the region could only attract terrorists.

Duterte also rejected seeking treatment in Singapore although the Singaporean government has forgiven him for burning their flag when Filipina domestic helper Flor Contemplacion was hanged in the island state.

Duterte said the extent of his spine injury will be known this week when he undergoes another MRI procedure. He said he would rather seek surgery in the country considering the huge cost of treatment abroad.

Duterte said he will not quit his post despite his health problem. “I’m not resigning from office. I’m just seeking treatment so I could move around without any difficulty and better serve the people,” he said in his weekly TV program yesterday.

Should Duterte take a leave of absence, his lawyer-daughter Sara, the city’s vice mayor-elect, will serve as acting mayor.

Sara told The STAR that she is prepared to assume the responsibility, but hopes her father would soon recover from his illness.