Duterte to go around Philippines amid spread of COVID-19 cases

President Rodrigo Duterte plans to go around the country in the coming days amid the continued increase of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

Duterte said he would also visit military camps.

"If I am reckless enough then I’d get it because in the coming days I intend to go around the country, magbisita ako. Magbisita pa ako ng kampo ng military so I just have to take precautions," Duterte said.

"Kung may tao man na galit na galit dito sa pagkakulong natin, ako. Kaya naiintindihan ko kung ano ang puso ninyo," he added.

Duterte made the statement as he warned Filipinos against going outside their homes “to enjoy and even to live life normally” amid the pandemic.

“Ako yung ayaw talaga sa itong lockdown lockdown. I hate it. I do not want [it] even myself. Pero ang sabi ko sa inyo kung kayo hindi makatiis at tinamaan kayo, sorry na lang. Same is true for me,” Duterte said.

The president again expressed optimism that a vaccine against COVID-19 will soon be released by other countries.

However, he underscored that the body is the only defense Filipinos have against the respiratory disease while a vaccine has not yet been discovered.

“I believe, too, that many countries have now perfected some vaccines. Maybe some are haphazard, kasi madalian e. The quest for vaccine takes time, years. Dito nagmamadalian,” he said.

“Ang panlaban mo lang dito sa virus na to is really your body,” Duterte added.

The Philippines has logged 30,682 COVID-19 cases with 8,143 recoveries and 1,177 deaths as of Monday afternoon. -NB, GMA News