Duterte conducts aerial inspection on Rolly-hit areas

After being tagged as “missing in action,” President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday conducted an aerial inspection and visited the areas hit by Super Typhoon Rolly over the weekend.

The President was seen conducting the aerial inspection with Senator Bong Go in a helicopter.

Duterte and Go inspected Catanduanes, the first province hit by the typhoon, and Guinobatan town in Albay, where over 300 houses were buried in lahar.

After the visit, Go said Duterte would meet with concerned government officials for a situation briefing. They would also discuss the relief and rehabilitation efforts for those affected by the typhoon Rolly.

#NasaanAngPangulo was trending on social media last weekend after netizens and groups criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s “no-show” in the midst of the ravages of typhoon Rolly.

“Ayaw po ni Pangulo na makaistorbo sa mga government workers natin, armed forces sa kanilang recovery operation so pupunta po siya soon sa mga hardest hit area nang siya lang po,” said Sen. Bong Go, Duterte’s former special assistant.

Malacañang had earlier said that Duterte was in Davao City during typhoon Rolly.

“Hindi ibig sabihin nasa Mindanao po ang Pangulo e hindi siya nagtatrabaho,” Go defended.

Also read: 80% of houses in three Catanduanes towns destroyed by Rolly – Gordon

Duterte conducts aerial inspection on Rolly-hit areas

The President found an ally with Sen. Richard Gordon.

“Each one to his own taste and judgment… Even God said you should rest on the 7th day… Everybody has the duty to protect the president of the Philippines. The President will not go if there is a threat to his life, and a threat can be physical or can be a health threat,” the senator said.

The latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report said Super Typhoon Rolly affected over two million residents from 12 regions.