Duterte to hold next IATF meeting in Davao
Published Jun 1, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte will work, meet with the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, and deliver his next public address from Davao City in the next few days.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on May 28, 2020. (ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/FILE PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed over the weekend that the President flew to Davao and will be staying in his hometown for the next few days.
In his Monday press conference, Roque said the President did not go to Davao just to have a reunion with his family whom he only saw for three days when he first went there last week.
"Tinitignan din niya kung ano yung nangyari sa Mindanao, at in fact, magkakaroon siya ng mga official functions sa Davao, kasama na yung pag-uulat sa bayan, at ang pagmi-meeting niya sa ilang mga miyembro ng IATF. Mangyayari po 'yan sa Davao (He is also checking what is happening in Mindanao and will have official functions there, including his next public address and an IATF meeting)," he said.
"Pupunta po ang ilang miyembro ng IATF sa Davao para doon sa address at pagpupulong (Members of the IATF will go there for the public address and the meeting). If I'm not mistaken it will happen on June 4, Thursday," he added.
Roque, in an interview with Super Radyo DZBB, asked the public to allow the President to stay in Davao for a few days especially after being stuck in Malacañang for 67 days due to quarantine restrictions prompted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"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. He hasn't seen all of his loved ones there yet. His first trip was so short)," he said.
Despite this, Roque doubted that the Presidential Security Group (PSG) will allow Duterte to go around like he used to before the pandemic.
"Nililimitahan din natin yung mga lakad sa labas ng Presidente (We're also limiting the President's activities outside of his home)," he said.
"Senior citizen din ang Pangulo. Kasi kahit anong 'yan, kahit anong quarantine 'yan, eh ang mga seniors, 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. Roque had earlier acknowledged that the President's trip will be an issue after the government banned non-essential travel.
"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 since the entire island is going back to normal. You cannot deprive the President of that)," he said.
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 (Humanitarian Assistance Actors), 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 despite his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña's request to just stay in Davao when the lockdown started.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on May 28, 2020. (ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/FILE PHOTO/MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed over the weekend that the President flew to Davao and will be staying in his hometown for the next few days.
In his Monday press conference, Roque said the President did not go to Davao just to have a reunion with his family whom he only saw for three days when he first went there last week.
"Tinitignan din niya kung ano yung nangyari sa Mindanao, at in fact, magkakaroon siya ng mga official functions sa Davao, kasama na yung pag-uulat sa bayan, at ang pagmi-meeting niya sa ilang mga miyembro ng IATF. Mangyayari po 'yan sa Davao (He is also checking what is happening in Mindanao and will have official functions there, including his next public address and an IATF meeting)," he said.
"Pupunta po ang ilang miyembro ng IATF sa Davao para doon sa address at pagpupulong (Members of the IATF will go there for the public address and the meeting). If I'm not mistaken it will happen on June 4, Thursday," he added.
Roque, in an interview with Super Radyo DZBB, asked the public to allow the President to stay in Davao for a few days especially after being stuck in Malacañang for 67 days due to quarantine restrictions prompted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"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. He hasn't seen all of his loved ones there yet. His first trip was so short)," he said.
Despite this, Roque doubted that the Presidential Security Group (PSG) will allow Duterte to go around like he used to before the pandemic.
"Nililimitahan din natin yung mga lakad sa labas ng Presidente (We're also limiting the President's activities outside of his home)," he said.
"Senior citizen din ang Pangulo. Kasi kahit anong 'yan, kahit anong quarantine 'yan, eh ang mga seniors, 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. Roque had earlier acknowledged that the President's trip will be an issue after the government banned non-essential travel.
"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 since the entire island is going back to normal. You cannot deprive the President of that)," he said.
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 (Humanitarian Assistance Actors), 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 despite his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña's request to just stay in Davao when the lockdown started.