President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to return to Manila on or before Tuesday for a scheduled meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in Malacañang to discuss the next steps to handle the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) situation in the country.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified the president’s schedule when news about him returning to his hometown in Davao City were reported. PRRD was accompanied by his former aide and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Sandali lang po. Alam ko po ay mayroong meeting na naka-schedule sa Malacañang ng Tuesday (It will be a short visit. I know he has a scheduled meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday),” Roque said in an interview.
The spokesperson explained why Duterte decided to make the trip to Davao City hours after quarantine restrictions were relaxed.
“Alam ko magiging isyu ito pero huwag nating kalimutan na iyong ginawa naman ng ating Presidente na pag-uwi sa Davao, hindi lang pagbisita after 67 days kung hindi Presidente rin siya,” he justified.
[I know this will be an issue but let’s not forget that the President’s return to Davao is not just to visit after 67 days but also because he’s President.]
Roque emphasized that Duterte also has to assess the COVID-19 situation in Mindanao.
“Kinakailangan niya namang malaman kung ano ang nangyayari sa Mindanao ‘no dahil ang buong Mindanao ngayon po ay bumabalik na sa normal. So hindi po naman maaalis sa katungkulan ng Presidente iyan ‘no,” he added.
[He needs to know what’s happening in Mindanao because the whole of Mindanao is now back to normal. So you cannot remove that duty from the President]
Roque assured that the Presidential Security Group (PSG) has made it a point that the President observed all health and safety protocols in his flight back to his hometown.
On Saturday, PSG Commander, Col. Jesus Durante III confirmed that Duterte flew home to Davao City after the community quarantine in Metro Manila was relaxed.
