Duterte back in Davao
Published May 30, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Malacañang assured the public that President Duterte will continue performing his duties even now that he is in Davao City and will stay there for a while.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after the Presidential Security Group (PSG) confirmed that the President is in Davao City. In an interview with Super Radyo DZBB Saturday afternoon (May 30), Roque said it was not sure when the Duterte will return to Manila. He did say the President will deliver his next public address from Davao City He added that Duterte will continue performing his duties from his hometown for the next few days like he used to before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hit the country. "Noong unang uwi niya naman kasi tatlong araw lang, so ngayon medyo tatagalan niya. Pero itutuloy po niya 'yung pagganap ng kanyang tungkuling kagaya ng dati niyang ginagawa (The first time he went home he only stayed three day, so this time he'll stay a while longer. But he will continue performing his duties from there as he used to)," he said. "Hayaan na muna natin siyang magtagal doon. Hindi pa nakikita ng Presidente lahat ng mahal niya sa buhay doon. Bitin na bitin yung kanyang tatlong araw noong unang beses (Let's allow him to spend some time there. The President hasn't seen all of his loved ones there yet. His first trip of three days was so short)," he added. Despite this, Roque doubted that the PSG will allow Duterte to go around like he used to before the pandemic. "Nililimitahin din natin 'yung mga lakad sa labas ng Presidente (We're also limiting the President's outdoor activities)," he said. "Senior citizen din ang Pangulo. Kasi kahit anong 'yan, kahit anong quarantine 'yan, eh ang mga seinors, mga bata, as much as possible, sa bahay pa rin (The President is also a senior citizen. No matter what quarantine level it is, senior citizens and children should stay at home as much as possible)," he added. This is the second time President Duterte returned to his hometown during the pandemic. He first flew to Davao on May 16 and spent the weekend there after being stuck in Malacañang for 67 days because of the strict quarantine measures prompted by COVID-19. "Yes. He is in Davao for a visit after more than two months of not being able to see his family. He will be back for the next IATF meeting," Roque earlier reported. However, he explained that the President's travel was not just for leisure but also to check on the situation in Mindanao because he knew it would be an issue after the government banned non-essential travel. "Alam ko magiging issue ito, pero 'wag nating kalimutan na ang ginawa naman ng ating Presidente na pagpunta sa Davao, hindi lang pagbisita after 67 days, kung hindi Presidente rin siya (I know this will be an issue, but let's not forget that his travel to Davao is not just a visit, but he's also a President)," he said. "Kinakailangan naman niya malaman kung ano nangyayari sa Mindanao dahil ang buong Mindanao ngayon po ay bumabalik na sa normal. So hindi mo naman maaalis sa katungkulan ng Presidente 'yan (He also needs to know the situation in Mindanao because the entire island is going back to normal. You cannot remove that from the President's duties)," he added. Under the omnibus guidelines of the IATF released this month, "and, air, or sea travel by uniformed personnel, government officials, and employees for official business with the corresponding travel authority and authorized HAAs, especially those transporting medical supplies and laboratory specimens related to COVID-19, and other relief and humanitarian assistance, shall be allowed." Duterte stayed in Malacañang for 67 straight days to lead the government's fight against the pandemic and turned down his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña's request to stay in Davao when the lockdown started.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after the Presidential Security Group (PSG) confirmed that the President is in Davao City. In an interview with Super Radyo DZBB Saturday afternoon (May 30), Roque said it was not sure when the Duterte will return to Manila. He did say the President will deliver his next public address from Davao City He added that Duterte will continue performing his duties from his hometown for the next few days like he used to before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hit the country. "Noong unang uwi niya naman kasi tatlong araw lang, so ngayon medyo tatagalan niya. Pero itutuloy po niya 'yung pagganap ng kanyang tungkuling kagaya ng dati niyang ginagawa (The first time he went home he only stayed three day, so this time he'll stay a while longer. But he will continue performing his duties from there as he used to)," he said. "Hayaan na muna natin siyang magtagal doon. Hindi pa nakikita ng Presidente lahat ng mahal niya sa buhay doon. Bitin na bitin yung kanyang tatlong araw noong unang beses (Let's allow him to spend some time there. The President hasn't seen all of his loved ones there yet. His first trip of three days was so short)," he added. Despite this, Roque doubted that the PSG will allow Duterte to go around like he used to before the pandemic. "Nililimitahin din natin 'yung mga lakad sa labas ng Presidente (We're also limiting the President's outdoor activities)," he said. "Senior citizen din ang Pangulo. Kasi kahit anong 'yan, kahit anong quarantine 'yan, eh ang mga seinors, mga bata, as much as possible, sa bahay pa rin (The President is also a senior citizen. No matter what quarantine level it is, senior citizens and children should stay at home as much as possible)," he added. This is the second time President Duterte returned to his hometown during the pandemic. He first flew to Davao on May 16 and spent the weekend there after being stuck in Malacañang for 67 days because of the strict quarantine measures prompted by COVID-19. "Yes. He is in Davao for a visit after more than two months of not being able to see his family. He will be back for the next IATF meeting," Roque earlier reported. However, he explained that the President's travel was not just for leisure but also to check on the situation in Mindanao because he knew it would be an issue after the government banned non-essential travel. "Alam ko magiging issue ito, pero 'wag nating kalimutan na ang ginawa naman ng ating Presidente na pagpunta sa Davao, hindi lang pagbisita after 67 days, kung hindi Presidente rin siya (I know this will be an issue, but let's not forget that his travel to Davao is not just a visit, but he's also a President)," he said. "Kinakailangan naman niya malaman kung ano nangyayari sa Mindanao dahil ang buong Mindanao ngayon po ay bumabalik na sa normal. So hindi mo naman maaalis sa katungkulan ng Presidente 'yan (He also needs to know the situation in Mindanao because the entire island is going back to normal. You cannot remove that from the President's duties)," he added. Under the omnibus guidelines of the IATF released this month, "and, air, or sea travel by uniformed personnel, government officials, and employees for official business with the corresponding travel authority and authorized HAAs, especially those transporting medical supplies and laboratory specimens related to COVID-19, and other relief and humanitarian assistance, shall be allowed." Duterte stayed in Malacañang for 67 straight days to lead the government's fight against the pandemic and turned down his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña's request to stay in Davao when the lockdown started.