Palace optimistic Duterte will visit areas hit by Typhoon Ambo

Malacañang on Monday expressed optimism that President Rodrigo Duterte will visit provinces battered by Typhoon Ambo last week.

Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said the President’s travels needed clearance from the Presidential Security Group, which has stepped up its measures to protect Duterte amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Given the clearance to be given by PSG, I’m sure gustung-gusto talaga pumunta ni Presidente doon sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo kasi ang track record naman niya talagang pinupuntahan niya iyong mga lugar na iyan,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

The typhoon hit several provinces in Luzon and Visayas with damage to agriculture breaching the P1-billion mark on Sunday.

Duterte traveled to his hometown Davao City last Saturday to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Mindanao and spend time with his family after being away for more than two months.

“As of yesterday nagulat ako na hindi pa niya nakikita iyong kaniyang mga apo, inuna po siguro niya iyong pagtingin kung anong nangyayari hindi lang po sa siyudad ng Davao kundi sa buong Mindanao,” Roque said.

“Alam ninyo kasi ang Presidente naman, hindi lang naman siya Presidente dito sa Luzon, Presidente iyan ng buong Pilipinas. Nakipagkapit-bisig po siya dahil pinakamatinding problema sa COVID-19 dito sa Luzon kaya 67 days siyang nanatili rito para ipakita na he is one with the people.”

Duterte was expected to return to Manila on Monday night, Roque said. The President will attend the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Tuesday.—AOL, GMA News