ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte will conduct an aerial inspection of areas hit the hardest by super typhoon “Rolly” en route to Manila on Monday.
“It’s confirmed that (President Duterte) will be flying from Davao to Manila today. En route to Manila he will be conducting an aerial inspection in Bicolandia and Calabarzon,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
Duterte had been in Davao City during the onslaught of “Rolly” over the weekend.
On Sunday, he was absent from a Cabinet typhoon briefing, prompting netizens to trend the #NasaanAngPangulo hashtag.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said Duterte would meet Cabinet officials for a situation briefing once he lands in Manila.
“[P]agkatapos nito ay magkakaroon siya ng situation briefing with the Cabinet. Pinatawag niya lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno para tumulong ito sa recovery efforts ng gobyerno,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.
Go also defended Duterte’s absence from the Sunday meeting.
“Hindi ibig sabihin na nasa Mindanao ang pangulo ay hindi siya nagtatrabaho. 24/7 nagtatrabaho ang ating pangulo at sinisigurado ng pangulo na laging handa ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na magbigay agad ng immediate assistance sa mga lugar na maaapektuhan ng bagyo,” he said.
At least 16 deaths have been reported due to “Rolly.” John Ezekiel J. Hirro