Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16) — President Rodrigo Duterte will continue his out-of-town trips despite the surge in COVID-19 cases and his vulnerability as a senior citizen.
“Bakit po siya kampante? Ang epicenter po talaga (ng COVID) ay Metro Manila, Metro Cebu at Metro Davao at ‘di naman po siya nagpupunta sa areas na ‘yun,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his briefing on Tuesday.
[Translation: Why is the President complacent? Because the epicenter of COVID is in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, and he does not go to those areas.]
Roque added that health protocols are being ensured among those who get close to Duterte during his trips.
“Merong RT-PCR (reverse polymerase chain reaction) requirement sa mga posibleng makalapit kay Presidente. Meron na pong distinction ngayon yung mga lalapit at di lalapit,” he added.
[Translation: Those who might get near the President have to fulfill the RT-PCR test requirement. And there is a distinction between those who can and cannot approach him.]
Roque noted that members of Duterte’s security group also ensure that everyone, especially public officials who might interact with him, are wearing face masks, face shields, and are keeping their distance.
Duterte, who is turning 76 this month, has yet to get his COVID-19 shot. He earlier expressed interest to receive China’s Sinopharm vaccine, but the Food and Drug Administration has not yet given the drugmaker Emergency Use Authorization.
“At the same time, si Presidente po ang may kagustuhang lumibot nang makita ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
[Translation: At the same time, it is the President who really wants to go around and check the condition of our fellow Filipinos.]
Duterte held a meeting with Cabinet officials on Monday evening to discuss their latest steps amid the pandemic. Fewer members were physically present, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Roque, who contracted COVID-19 himself, was only present via teleconferencing.
On March 11, Duterte was in Dumaguete City with other officials for the inauguration of some development projects.
The Philippines has been logging over 3,000 and 4,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the past week, a surge government officials and experts flagged as “alarming.” On Monday, the country recorded 5,404 new COVID-19 cases, the biggest single-day rise in infections since August 14 of last year.
