Duterte expected back in Malacañang late Monday

(File Photo)
(File Photo)

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expected to return to Malacañang late Monday, May 18, after a weekend trip to Davao City, his hometown, to see his family.

As of Sunday, however, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President has not seen his grandchildren.

“Inuna po siguro nya yung pagtingin kung anong nangyayari hindi lang po sa syudad ng Davao pati sa buong Mindanao,” Roque said in his virtual press briefing Monday.

The President, who often goes home to Davao City, was cooped up in Malacañang for 67 days because Metro Manila went into community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic on March 15.

“Alam nyo kasi ang Presidente naman, hindi lang naman siya Presidente dito sa Luzon, Presidente yan ng buong Pilipinas,” Roque said.

“Nakipag-kapitbisig po siya dahil pinakamatinding problema sa Covid-19 dito sa Luzon kay 67 days siyang nanatili rito para ipakita na he is one with the people. Pero nung kinakailangan din naman malaman po ng Presidente kung anong ang nangyayari sa iba’t-ibang parte ng Pilipinas,” he added.

Asked why the President chose to visit Davao instead of typhoon-ravaged Samar Island or Covid-19 hotspot Cebu City, Roque pointed out that the 75-year-old President is among those vulnerable to Covid-19.

He said that even if the President would want to visit the typhoon victims in Samar, his security escorts are not likely to allow it because of the Covid-19 threat.

“Pero ‘yung mga lugar naman po na nasalanta noong bagyo, it’s without prejudice po. Ang naging problema lang po talaga ng Presidente sobrang strikto sa kanya ng PSG (Presidential Security Group) ‘no,” he said.

“Given the clearance, I am sure gustong gusto talaga niyang pumunta doon sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo,” he added.

Roque also said that under the community quarantine guidelines, the President and other government officials are among the persons authorized outside their residence.

Under the omnibus guidelines, health and emergency personnel, government officials, duly-authorized humanitarian assistance actors, persons traveling for medical reasons, and repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are allowed to move across areas placed under any form of community quarantine. (With report from JTM/SunStar Philippines)

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