The foreign trips of President Rodrigo Duterte will depend on his doctor’s advice, Malacañang said Tuesday, a day after he had complained that he does not enjoy traveling.
President Duterte, who was advised by his doctors to limit his physical activities after experiencing muscle spasms, said in his speech on Monday that he have had enough of travel.
“Maybe they’ll say that I want to travel. You know, I hate to travel. I have had enough of travel,” Duterte told officials in Malacañang.
“I am sick of traveling and I don’t like it especially the long haul,” he added.
Duterte is scheduled to fly to Thailand for the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit on Nov. 2 to 4.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Chief Executive will heed his doctor’s advice.
“If the doctor will ask him not to travel, why will he? The consultations are continuing,” Panelo told reporters.
Palace officials earlier confirmed the President’s attendance to the Asean Summit, where he is expected to raise the creation of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
The President, in a previous Asean summit, expressed disappointment over the delay in the crafting of the code, which will set forth protocols and rules to ensure no violent conflicts will arise between China and Asean-member countries with claims in the resource-rich territories.
Duterte is also expected to attend the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation that will be held in Santiago, Chile where there are ongoing violent protests in response to higher cost of living and transportation fees.
“Anything will be taken into consideration relative to any form of visit,” Panelo said.