Duterte safe in Davao, but house suffers cracks

MANILA,Philippines — President Duterte and his family were safe after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake rocked Cotabato and neighboring areas, including his home city of Davao yesterday morning, according to Malacañang officials, although there was a need to check the structural integrity of his residence, which incurred some cracks on the walls.

“PRRD and family are OK. There is no need to evacuate, but there is a need  for the engineer to check the structure,” Presidential Security Group commander Brig. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra said, referring to Duterte by his acronym.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte was “safe in his home” where he monitored developments on the government response on the earthquake.

The Chief Executive is keen on ensuring that the quake-hit areas will be provided immediate and effective relief, according to Panelo.

“The President considers all situations arising from natural disasters that have caused widespread destruction to lives and property a top concern,” he added.

Reports said the President was in the comfort room of his residence when the quake shook parts of Mindanao at 9:15 a.m., leaving at least five dead and hundreds of others injured.

Panelo said Duterte had directed all concerned agencies and local government units to provide the necessary assistance and immediate relief to those affected.

The presidential spokesman said the government, through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Office of Civil Defense, is on top of the situation following the latest earthquake to hit Mindanao.

Go’s house also damaged

Aside from Duterte’s house, Sen. Christopher Go’s house was also slightly damaged in yesterday’s earthquake.

Go sent pictures of portions of his and the President’s houses, which showed visible damage near a door and a window.

“Housing po ang bahay ng Pangulo. Teachers’ village ’yan. One kilometer away lang yung condo na gumuho,” Go told Senate reporters, referring to Ecoland 4000 Condominium that collapsed during the  temblor.

Go has yet to give additional details, including whether their houses are still safe for occupancy and whether damage was also visible outside the house.

‘Frightening’

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa described his experience during the earthquake that hit Mindanao yesterday morning as “frightening.”

Dela Rosa said he was in his house in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur when the ground shook.

“Nakakatakot. Ang lakas ng paggalaw ng lupa at may tunog pa parang may susunod na malakas na pagsabog. Nakakatakot talaga (It was scary. The art was shaking and it sounded like there would be an explosion. It was really scary),” Dela Rosa told The STAR in a phone interview,

The senator said the shaking was so strong that many of his memorabilia as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on display fell to the floor and were damaged.

Dela Rosa said he was with his mother in their garage when the quake struck. He rushed out, but remembered his mother is weak and could not run, so he went back in. His wife and other members of the family went out of their house, and no one among them was hurt.

He added that there were some hairline cracks visible in some parts of his house, but he expressed belief the structure is still safe for occupancy.

The senator said he is making arrangements to be able to extend assistance to the families affected by the disaster.

 Condemned

Occupants of Ecoland 4000 condominium have been told to abandon the building after city engineers condemned one of the structures following the initial strong quake that struck Mindanao on Oct. 16, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said yesterday. – With Edith Regalado, Cecille SuerteFelipe