Due to security concerns, PRRD to skip groundbreaking

Security considerations prompted changes in President Rodrigo Duterte’s itinerary for his Cebu visit today for Mandaue City’s 49th Charter Day celebration.

Instead of going to Barangay Looc in Mandaue for the groundbreaking of a housing project, President Duterte will stay in the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Center, where the project will be launched at 3 p.m.

Senior Supt. Julian Entoma, Mandaue City’s police chief, said that space and security considerations prompted the change.

Duterte will be joined by his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in Mandaue where they will be welcomed by Rep. Jonas Cortes (Cebu, 6th), Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr.

As part of the Charter Day activities, Duterte will lead the launching of the P128-million Mandaue City-NHA Low Rise Housing Project, which will benefit urban poor families living in and along danger areas.

Around 3,000 people are expected to attend the activity today.

There is no confirmed meeting with local officials yet but if he were to be invited to a private dinner again when the President, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he wants to talk to him about the fight against illegal drugs.

In a news conference yesterday, Labella said he has been invited to private dinners during the President’s earlier visits to Cebu.

“I’m just waiting for Secretary (Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael) Dino. Wa pa man nagset og appointment namo. It’s always a private dinner, not in an official capacity. There are concerns we’ve talked about, but it’s always the drug problem,” Labella said.