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ECQ, Spike in Covid-19 Cases Force PRRD To Limit Public Exposure

President Duterte has limited his public engagements due to the spike in Covid-19 cases in NCR Plus and the reimposition of ECQ. The presidential spokesperson said Duterte's safety could not be compromised as active Covid-19 cases remain high. Duterte did not attend the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan in Bataan but his video message was played. The spokesperson also clarified that a recent virtual meeting among Cabinet members was not an official Cabinet meeting.

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48 views2 pages

ECQ, Spike in Covid-19 Cases Force PRRD To Limit Public Exposure

President Duterte has limited his public engagements due to the spike in Covid-19 cases in NCR Plus and the reimposition of ECQ. The presidential spokesperson said Duterte's safety could not be compromised as active Covid-19 cases remain high. Duterte did not attend the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan in Bataan but his video message was played. The spokesperson also clarified that a recent virtual meeting among Cabinet members was not an official Cabinet meeting.

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ECQ, spike in Covid-19 cases force

PRRD to limit public exposure

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has to limit his public engagements because of the
spike in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and the reimposition of the enhanced
community quarantine (ECQ) in National Capital Region Plus (NCR Plus), Malacañang
said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after Duterte failed to
attend this year’s commemoration ceremony for Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the
Mr. Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan.

“The President’s critics are asking why President Rodrigo Duterte has no public event to
commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan. Lest they forget, we are under community
quarantine, where gatherings are not encouraged,” Roque said.

The hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo (Where is the President) trended again on Twitter.

Duterte’s last activities were held on March 29 when he delivered a public address and
witnessed the arrival of one million Covid-19 vaccine doses procured from China’s
Sinovac Biotech.

Duterte was supposed to deliver his weekly talk to the nation on Wednesday, but decided
to postpone it after many members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) contracted
Covid-19.

Roque said Duterte’s safety could not be compromised, considering that Covid-19
infections continue to rise.

“Active cases of Covid-19 remain high and we have to ensure not only the safety of the
President but also the physical well-being of the staff and the security in charge of the
coordination and preparation of the presidential engagement or event,” he said.

Despite his failure to go to Bataan, Duterte’s video message was played during the
commemoration of the 79th Araw ng Kagitingan.

Not a Cabinet meeting

In a separate statement, Roque also clarified that the recent virtual meeting among select
members of the Cabinet was not a Cabinet meeting.

Roque made the clarification after several news outlets reported that Duterte also missed
the Cabinet meeting held Thursday.
“Yesterday’s meeting was not a Cabinet meeting. As mentioned, it was a zoom meeting
attended by some Department Secretaries,” he said, adding that the meeting was
presided by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

He said the meeting was “informal but productive".

Not photoshopped

On Wednesday, PSG commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III assured the public that
Duterte is “safe” and “in good health.”

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go also released several photos of Duterte to dispel


rumors about Duterte’s health condition.

Critics, however, have claimed that Duterte’s recent photos are edited.

Roque merely shrugged off critics’ claim.

“As to claims that the recent photos of President Duterte are photoshopped, those who
made noise on the matter are the usual detractors of the Chief Executive who see
nothing good in what he does. Let them be,” he said.

Maharlika TV, citing “reliable sources,” claimed in a now-deleted post that Duterte
suffered a “mild heart attack.”

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday


dismissed as “fake news” Maharlika TV’s report. (PNA)

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