Duterte visits Typhoon Ompong victims in Cordilleras

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday met with 22 families of landslide victims in the Cordilleras and provided them financial assistance. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte distributed checks worth P45,000 to each family. He also met with Cabinet members and local officials of La Trinidad, Benguet to discuss the needs of the areas affected by Typhoon Ompong. 

A 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 over the death of those who died because of Typhoon Ompong, especially in the province of Benguet,” Roque said.  

Last Sunday, Duterte cracked a joke about the landslide in Itogon, Benguet, 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. 

“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 in the Philippines. 

Duterte has been badmouthing the Roman Catholic Church, which has been critical of his policies including his brutal war on illegal drugs.

The government is mobilizing all concerned agencies to make sure the needs of those affected by Typhoon Ompong are being addressed.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said President Duterte and his Cabinet secretaries were at the disaster areas before and after the typhoon.

Go said the President, who flew to Benguet the other day, has been monitoring the situation and is giving the necessary directives to the concerned agencies.

“Our President gave instructions to provide aid to all the victims and to the local governments. When he found out that a number of people died in Benguet, he decided he would fly there to check the situation,” Go said.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 38 people died in Benguet.

The typhoon affected a total of 270,388 persons in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, Cordillera Administrative Region and National Capital Region.