A day after attending the Senate inquiry into his administration’s war on drugs campaign, former president Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Oct. 29, joined the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in its ongoing relief operations for the victims of Typhoon Kristine in Talisay, Batangas.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte visits the wake of one of the landslide victims in Talisay, Batangas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in the wake of Typhoon Kristine. (Photo courtesy of OVP)
Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter, was not with him during the distribution of the OVP’s assistance to the victims because she was dealing with problems in their hometown of Davao City, the former president said.
“Inutusan niya ako . . . Ako talaga pumunta mismo dito (She asked me . . . I personally went here),” Duterte furthered.
“Ang mensahe niya nalungkot siya pero gayunpaman ginusto man niya talaga, hindi pwede kasi isang lang ang katawan ng tao (Her message was that she’s sad but despite wanting to be here, she cannot as she only has one body),” he said in explaining the Vice President’s absence.
Duterte shared that his daughter had to deal with problems in Davao and other areas but assured that she’ll be in Manila soon.
“Pero siguradong sigurado ako sa pag-uwi niya dito sa Maynila pupunta dito ‘yan sa inyo (But I am very sure that when she comes to Manila, she’ll visit you all here),” he stressed.
He merely became his daughter’s emissary because food and help are needed in Batangas, Duterte claimed.
The former chief executive personally condoled with the families of those who died from the Oct. 24 landslide in Brgy. Sampaloc, Talisay, Batangas.
“FPRRD also joined the OVP-DOC’s (Disaster Operations Center) relief operations in different evacuation centers in Talisay and Laurel, Batangas,” a statement from the OVP said.
“More than 1,400 families were given relief bags in the said localities in Batangas,” it added.
Photos released by the OVP showed the former president talking with the victims’ families.
During his visit, Duterte was accompanied by the OVP’s Special Projects Division and Public Assistance Division.
As of Oct. 27, the total number of casualties in Batangas province due to the landslide reached 20. The youngest was a two-month-old baby.
Across Batangas province, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said on Sunday, Oct. 27, that 59 have died, with 16 missing and 18 injured.
On Monday, Oct. 28, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that there were already 116 reported fatalities all over the country because of “Kristine”.