MANILA – Malacañang reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte is fully aware and updated amid natural disasters in the country as he is constantly monitoring developments through technology.
In a press briefing on Friday, his spokesperson Harry Roque said it was just the gimmick of the opposition to demand the physical presence of the 75-year-old chief executive.
“Hindi po dapat tanungin ‘Nasaan ang Pangulo’ – ‘yan po ay kalokohan lang ng oposisyon. Ang Presidente po ay hindi nawawala, palagi po natin siyang kapiling, palagi po niyang iniisip ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan,” Roque said.
According to Roque, the number of casualties in natural disasters that occurred during Duterte’s watch is lower than that in previous administrations.
The military has recorded 39 fatalities due to typhoon Ulysses, but Roque said only 14 of the deaths have been verified by local government units as of press time on Friday.
“Gaya ng narinig niyo po, mabilis po ang naging response ng government. Unfortunately ‘di po natin magagawan ng paraan ang masyadong mabilis na pagtaas ng tubig,” Roque said.
“Meron pong mga nag-antay, unfortunately hindi naman po instant talaga ‘yung ating pag-rescue sa kanila, pero hindi naman po gaanong katagal ang kanilang pag-aantay at ang importante po na-rescue po lahat ng kinakailangan na matulungan,” he added.
#NasaanAngPangulo trended online on Thursday, as “Ulysses” battered several parts of Luzon, while President Duterte was attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ virtual forum./PN