Cabinet flew to Davao for Duterte meeting at no extra cost –Roque

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday he and other Cabinet officials flew to Davao City on Monday on a military transport plane at no extra cost to the government.

Roque said the C-295 aircraft that took them to Davao for a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte also carried medical supplies intended for the city, which was recently placed under a general community quarantine following a spike in COVID-19 cases.

“If you want, I will publish a picture po kung ano ang sitwasyon ng mga staff namin na nakasakay doon sa cargo area ng eroplano. It’s a lot of sacrifice po,” Roque said at a news conference when asked to comment on observations that the meeting could have been done via video conference.

“And there was no expense spent just for us. We were incidental passengers in a full cargo flight.”

Roque and some Cabinet members joined Duterte when he addressed the nation on Monday night regarding the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response and other national issues.

The Palace spokesman also held a short press briefing in Davao. — DVM, GMA News