President Duterte seems to be back to his regular, pre-pandemic programming as he starts to attend more and more public engagements despite the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) still present in the country.
(KARL NORMAN ALONZO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
This week alone, President Duterte has already graced four public events and another one set for Friday, March 5:
- February 28: Arrival of 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines at the Villamor Airbase
- March 4: Inauguration of school buildings in Bulacan
- March 4: Inauguration of school buildings in Valenzuela City
- March 4: Arrival of 487,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
- March 5: Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) national and regional task forces joint meeting in Cagayan de Oro City
Duterte likewise held his regular weekly public address on March 1 and attended the Cabinet meeting on March 3.
In the events in Bulacan and Valenzuela City, President Duterte brought with him his partner Honeylet Avanceña, the first time since the start of the lockdown in March last year.
President Duterte has ceased his usual attendance at public events when the pandemic hit the Philippines last year. His scheduled foreign trips were also canceled.
On February 28, President Duterte denied suspicions that he was already vaccinated against COVID-19. However, he said he was very willing to receive the vaccine because he goes around and meets many people, thus exposing him to risks.
"Ano bang problema nila sa bakuna na talagang magpabakuna man ako (What is their problem about the vaccine when I'm really getting vaccinated)? If I do not want to die and get COVID, I should get one," he said.
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) had announced that they will tighten the security on Duterte to ensure his safety from the disease. Members of the PSG were even secretly vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine last year so they can perform their duty of protecting the President well.
Even his Cabinet officials said that they could not approach Duterte when they are in Malacañang because of the tight security.