Palace: Duterte condoled with Jolo blast victims

Published August 30, 2020 7:43pm

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte meets with the troops of the Army's 11th Infantry Division in Jolo Sulu on Sunday, August 30, 2020. Two explosions in the city last week killed at least 15 and injured scores others. Photo: Sulu Provincial Government

President Rodrigo Duterte visited Jolo, Sulu to condole with the victims of twin explosions that claimed at least 15 lives and wounded 75 others last week, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Sunday.

“This is to confirm that PRRD visited Jolo, condoled with some of the victims of the latest blast, and conferred with the Mayor,” he told reporters.

“He is expected [to be] back in Manila tonight,” Roque added.

According to GMA News stringer Peewee Bacuño, Duterte was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other officials.

LOOK: President Duterte visited Jolo, Sulu on Sunday nearly a week after the twin blasts that killed 15 people and injured 75 others. ????: Sen. Bong Go. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/dFI2hpIGJa
— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) August 30, 2020

He offered flowers and prayers at a blast site, then went to Camp Teodolfu Bautista visit those injured in the blast and are now being treated in the camp hospital.

Earlier in the day, Duterte announced that he would visit the Jolo blast site to “give importance” to the cops and soldiers who died in the explosions.

"I’ll go there to fulfill the duty of a commander in chief,” Duterte said in an appearance on the online concert “Singing for the President.”

Malacañang earlier condemned the deadly Jolo blasts. — Julia Mari Ornedo and Peewee Bacuño/BM, GMA News

Tags: joloblasts, news