Duterte gives P45,000 to families of Cordillera landslide victims
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday met with 22 bereaved families of landslide victims in Cordillera and provided them financial assistance.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte distributed checks worth P25,000 to each family.
Majority of the fatalities of the typhoon came from the Cordillera region, most of them because of landslides.
"While the president is pleased by the preparations and the prompt response of the different agencies of government and the local government, we are grieving the death of those who died because of typhoon Ompong, especially in the province of Benguet," Roque said in a press briefing.
Last Sunday, Duterte cracked a joke about the landslide in Itogon, saying it was caused by the priest assigned in the area.
After he was informed by an official that the structure that collapsed was a church, Duterte said the tragedy would not have occurred if the priest is replaced. The structure was actually a mining shelter.
"Alam mo Sir, sa totoo lang, kung pinalitan ninyo 'yung pari diyan, hindi magbagsak 'yang simbahan na 'yan. Bobo kasi itong mga pari, p***** i** (You know sir, if you replaced the priest there, the church would not have collapsed. These priests are stupid, s** of a b****)," the president said.
Roque said the president was not serious when he made the remark.
"I think the president was not serious. Let’s not take his word always literally," the presidential spokesman said.
Roque said the structure that collapsed was owned by a mining company and was being used by the United Church of Christ of the Philippines.
"I belong to that Protestant denomination. It is not the Catholic Church," he added.
Duterte has been badmouthing the Roman Catholic Church, which has been critical of his policies including his brutal war on illegal drugs.
Presidential aide Christopher Go said a total of P45,000 were given to the victims' families.
He said P25,000 came from the Social Welfare department while P20,000 was provided by the Office of the President.
The families also received relief goods and burial assistance.
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