Duterte drops by Valenzuela-Meycauayan boundary where commuters, motorists remain stranded

President Rodrigo Duterte visited the Valenzuela-Meycauayan boundary along MacArthur Highway where commuters and motorists were stranded after the enhanced community quarantine took effect after midnight on Tuesday, GMA News' Jonathan Andal reported.

JUST IN: Pangulong Duterte dumating sa Valenzuela-Meycauayan boundary sa MacArthur Highway kung saan maraming stranded na tao dahil sa ipinatupad ditong "total lockdown" @gmanews pic.twitter.com/hXyEgHTlGl

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) March 16, 2020

President Duterte arrived at 4:35 a.m. onboard an SUV. He was wearing a sweater, gray slacks and shoes.

When he saw the commuters and motorists stranded at the border because of the enhanced community quarantine, Duterte immediately spoke with the police and military officials at the site.

He stayed only for a few minutes, leaving at 4:43 a.m. at which time the security personnel at the site removed the barriers and allowed the people to pass as was the instruction of the President.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte went out early on Tuesday to monitor the implementation of the quarantine.

“Everyone is called upon to rise to the challenges of these dangerous and extremely difficult phase of our history as a nation,” Panelo said.

“The President himself is setting the example.”

Hours before his visit, Duterte said in a televised address on Monday that he would still go out in public even though he strongly advised everyone to stay home for the meantime.

The enhanced community quarantine covering the entire Luzon was implemented to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, which has so far affected more than 100 people in the Philippines. It will last until April 13, 2020. —  with Virgil Lopez/BAP/KBK/RSJ, GMA News