Duterte flies back to Davao City
After being stranded in Manila for two months due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, President Duterte returned to Davao City past midnight Saturday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed in a text message Saturday afternoon that Duterte was already in Davao City but did not provide additional details.
Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Col. Jesus Durante III likewise confirmed Duterte’s travel but assured that the President will be attending the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases scheduled on Tuesday.
“Yes. He is in Davao for a visit after more than two months of not being able to see his family. He will be back for the next IATF meeting,” he said.
Meanwhile, in an interview over Super Radyo DZBB, Roque, knowing that Duterte’s travel will be an issue, said the President’s travel was not just for leisure but also to check on the situation in Mindanao after 67 days of being stranded in Malacañang. Nonessential travel is prohibited under all quarantine zones.
“Alam ko magiging issue ito pero ‘wag nating kalimutan na ang ginawa naman ng ating Presidente na pagpunta sa Davao, hindi lang pagbisita after 67 days kung hindi Presidente rin siya (I know this will be an issue but let’s not forget that his travel to Davao is not just a visit but he’s also a President),” he said.
“Kinakailangan naman niya malaman kung ano nangyayari sa Mindanao
dahil ang buong Mindanao ngayon po ay bumabalik na sa normal. So hindi mo naman maaalis sa katungkulan ng Presidente ‘yan (He also needs to know the situation in Mindanao since the entire island is going back to normal. You cannot deprive the President of that),” he added.
“But for leisure travels, like visiting your relatives, maybe we can postpone that for now because that is really not permitted by the IATF. We are limiting it to essential travel,” he said in Pilipino.
Under the omnibus guidelines of the IATF released Saturday morning, “Land, air, or sea travel by uniformed personnel, government officials, and employees for official business with the corresponding travel authority and authorized HAAs, especially those transporting medical supplies and laboratory specimens related to COVID-19, and other relief and humanitarian assistance, shall be allowed.”
Meanwhile, Roque said that President Duterte will be observing health protocols, particularly physical distancing, even in Davao City.
“Even when he was still in Malacañang physical distancing was strictly enforced,” he said in Pilipino.
Duterte made his trip after Typhoon Ambo ravaged Luzon and left at least one dead in Quezon after initially making landfall in Eastern Samar.
This was the first time Duterte returned to his hometown since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) took effect in Luzon on March 16. He even spent his birthday inside Malacañang on March 28.