Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 9) — President Rodrigo Duterte said he finds his security group’s “no touch” policy on him as unnecessary despite the coronavirus scare.
“Kalokohan ‘yan (That’s a joke). I will shake hands,” he said in a late night press briefing on Monday.
His statement is contrary to what his spokesperson Salvador Panelo said earlier that “he follows the advice of PSG, that’s for his own health.”
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) earlier implemented stricter measures for those in close contact with the President. Everyone who works closely with him will be screened and tested for any symptoms of the coronavirus disease.
“I want an embrace, why only a hand shake? Kulang yan. Maniwala ka diyan sa PSG, tapos sila sige gakos gakos ng babae,” Duterte joked.
[Translation: I want an embrace, why only a hand shake? That’s not enough. Don’t believe the PSG, because they just embrace ladies.]
The PSG will also assess the events that the President will attend and they might be cancelled for his safety.
However, Duterte affirmed that he will still attend the events despite the outbreak.
“Trabaho ‘yun eh (That’s a job) […] I will not decline invitations. I will shake hands with everybody. I will go to Mindanao to visit my dead soldiers and I will congratulate my warriors.”
