MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will likely defy the “no touch” policy that will be implemented by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to his long-time aide.
READ: PSG: ‘No touch’ policy on Duterte amid coronavirus scare
Speaking with reporters on Monday, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go was asked about the PSG’s “no touch” policy on the chief executive.
“Trabaho ng PSG yung sinasabi nilang ‘no touch’ policy. Trabaho nila yon to secure the President dahil siyempre pinapangalagaan nila yung kalusugan ng ating Pangulo. Pero knowing the president, nagkausap kami kagabi, ‘di niya ipagbabawal ‘yung hahawakan siya ng tao,” he said.
(That’s the job of the PSG, the “no touch” policy. It’s their job to secure the because of course we should take care of the President’s health. But as I know him, we talked, he said he would not prohibit coming in close contact with the public).
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte applauds as he witnesses the program proper during his meeting with the Filipino community in Israel at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem on September 2, 2018. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO
“Hindi papayag si Pangulo na lalayuan siya ng tao. Sa totoo lang, ang advice ng doctor niya, nakausap ko yung personal physician niya na medyo at his age kailangan na rin po ng pangalagaan, bantayan natin ang ating Pangulo na baka sakaling mahawa dahil talagang kinakamayan niya…Handa siyang mamatay para sa tao,” he added.
(The President will not let the public stay away from him. Honestly, the advice of his doctor… I was able to talk to his personal physician and because of his age, there’s a need to be careful with his health because he may be infected since the public would want to shake his hand.)
The PSG said it would ban close contact with the President as the Philippines reported four more COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 10.
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency on Monday following the recommendation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.