Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 1) — Members of the COVID-19 task force are set to fly to Davao City this week to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, his spokesperson said on Monday.
Members of the inter-agency task force are expected to travel to Duterte’s hometown on Thursday for a meeting and the President’s subsequent address to the nation on the government’s COVID-19 response.
“Pupunta po ang ilang miyembro ng IATF sa Davao para sa address at pagpupulong,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a media briefing.
[Translation: Members of the IATF will go to Davao for a meeting and the address.]
Duterte flew to Davao City, where his family lives, on May 30 — two days before the country eased quarantine and travel restrictions. Roque was quick to defend the President’s decision.
“Sixty-seven days pong nakulong sa Maynila si Presidente. Umuwi lang siya ng tatlong araw noong isang linggo, so siyempre hindi sapat ang tatlong araw niya,” he said.
[Translation: He stayed in Manila for 67 days. He only went home for three days last week, so of course it’s not enough.]
On May 16, Duterte flew home to his hometown after two months of staying in Malacañang Palace in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. He returned to Manila three days later.
