Palace responds to criticisms on Duterte's absence as torrential monsoon rains lashed
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was keeping warm while Metro Manila and nearby areas are experiencing heavy rains but he was monitoring the situation in affected areas.
This was Malacañang's response when asked to react to claims that Duterte was nowhere to be found while various parts of Luzon are inundated because of torrential rains.
"Like everyone, keeping warm, monitoring the situation. The president is a news junkie like everyone in this room. So he was very concerned," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing Tuesday.
"He (Duterte) talks about resilience. He talked about readiness of government agencies to provide assistance. He was in contact with individuals to make sure that delivery of assistance would be facilitated," he added.
Roque said Duterte came back to Manila from Davao earlier than scheduled to monitor the government's response in flood-hit areas. The president flew to Manila last Sunday, according to his aide Christopher Go.
He denied that Duterte was nowhere to be found while communities in Metro Manila, Rizal and other nearby areas are experiencing the effects of the southwest monsoon.
"No, he was there. He was in a public event and two private meetings. I understand that both events were anyway carried live by RTVM (Radio TV Malacañang) or PTV (People's Television) — one of them — by my phone web page. At least one of the three web pages carried it live," Roque said.
Duterte led the oath-taking of new appointees and the sendoff of the delegates of the 18th Asian Games last Monday in Malacañang.
Aerial view of flooded streets in Marikina City on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018.
The STAR/Walter Bollozos
The president was supposed to conduct an aerial inspection of flooded areas last Monday but it was canceled because of poor visibility. Roque said there was another helicopter ride scheduled Tuesday but it was recommended to be canceled again. He admitted that the president and his security aides are having problems traveling by land because of security concerns.
"I do not know actually if he wants that made public, because I know that when the President goes around and assist individuals, he really does not want media coverage," Roque said.
"He does not want media publicity when he goes around, extending assistance to individuals. I had a personal experience with that Christmas time, of course, you were not able to cover to him when he was going around different hospitals giving financial assistance," he added.
Despite the cancellation of the aerial inspections, Duterte has given instructions to agencies helping the affected areas, Go said. — Alexis Romero
Related video:
- Latest
- Trending
