MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte denied being distant from the public as he assured that the government is on top of the situation amid the onslaught of typhoon Ulysses on Thursday.
According to Duterte, he wanted to go and reach out to disaster-hit communities but he was prevented by the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
“It is not that I am at a distance from you. Gusto kong pumunta doon, makipaglangoy sa inyo. Ang problema, pinipigilan ako (ng PSG), kasi raw ‘pag namatay ako isa lang ang Presidente,” Duterte said.
“Sabi ko, may vice president naman. Wala naman silang sinasagot. Nagtitinginan lang sila. Hindi ka pwedeng mamatay itong panahon na ito. Kung malunod ka, malulunod kaming lahat nagtatrabaho sa iyo,” he added.
“We want to be of help we want to be near and we want to share the grief and the agony,” the President furthered.
#NasaanAngPangulo once again trended online on Thursday with President Duterte attending the 37th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits amid the onslaught of “Ulysses.”
“While we are facing the heavy downpour and strong winds, I assure that the government is on top of the situation,” Duterte said. “‘Yung mga nagsabi na walang ginawa o natutulog, andito po kami at wala kaming tulog.”
“The government is doing its best to provide assistance via shelter, food, financial aid, and post-disaster counseling,” he added. “Rest assured, the government will not leave anybody behind. We will get through this crisis. I assure you. As one nation, kapit po tayo, magbayanihan po tayong lahat.”
Typhoon Ulysses, the 21st tropical cyclone to hit the country, battered the nation still reeling from “Rolly,” the world’s most powerful typhoon of 2020 that killed 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes early in November./PN
