Malacañang confirmed that President Duterte will meet Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in the Palace to discuss coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols for Filipinos returning to the province.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Garcia told local reporters that she will meet with the President to present how the province's protocols do not defy guidelines set by the government's pandemic task force.
In his press briefing on Monday, Roque confirmed that Duterte and Garcia will meet before the President's meeting with members of the IATF for next month's quarantine classification.
This month, Garcia said Cebu will test all Filipinos from abroad upon arrival at the airport. This is contrary to the rule set by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases that testing should be done seven days after their return.
Meanwhile, Roque denied reports that he will press charges against Garcia for insubordination.
Reports said Roque and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra were eyeing to take legal action against Garcia for deviating from the whole-of-nation approach in testing returning overseas Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
In his press briefing, Roque said he has no authority to press charges against Garcia whom he described as his best friend forever or BFF.
"Wala akong kapangyarihan na magsampa ng kaso kay Governor Gwen Garcia (I have no power to file a case against Governor Gwen Garcia)," he said.
"Hindi ko gagawin 'yon sa aking BFF (I will not do that to my BFF)," he added.
Garcia said last week that she believed Roque will not do such a thing.
"I know Secretary Roque. He has a very sharp legal mind. I doubt, in fact, if he is planning to institute legal actions," she said.