PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte is ready to help children who have serious illnesses, especially those of soldiers and from poor families, in getting treatment in India, his former special assistant said on Monday. “May mga bata na kaming naipadala sa (We have sent children to) India, isa (one) from Taguig at naging (and it was a) successful ang operation,” Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go said in a statement on Monday. He added that there is another child currently being treated there. “Lahat ng batang may malalang sakit at kumplikado na lumalapit sa Pangulo, lalo na anak ng sundalo, tutulungan namin (All children who have a serious and complicated illness brought to the President, especially children of soldiers, will be given assistance),” he added. One case, however, did not have a happy ending as the child’s operation did not succeed. Mr. Go said the 11-month old soldier’s child was sent to India for biliary atresia, a disease of the liver and bile ducts that commonly occur among infants. “Ipinadala namin sa India para i-transplant pero nasawi dahil sa komplikasyon. Sasagutin ng Pangulo ang lahat ng gastos pati pagpapalibing sa bata (We sent the child to India for a transplant, but died due to complications. The President will pay for all the expenses, including the child’s burial),” he said. Mr. Duterte was present when the child’s remains was flown in to Davao City Sunday night. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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