Bongbong Marcos flies to earthquake-hit Abra

Scenes following a landslide along Halsema Highway in Mountain Province after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Langilang town in Abra on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.| PHOTO: Mountain Province DRRM Office

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. left Metro Manila on Thursday morning to visit earthquake-hit Abra province, the Palace announced.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Marcos’ chopper took off for Abra past 8 a.m.

“This morning, at past 8AM, the President took off for Abra to check the situation, inspect the damage and be briefed on the rescue and relief efforts there,” Cruz-Angeles said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the Palace said that Marcos will immediately visit Abra, which was the epicenter of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit parts of the Luzon region, once an “all clear” signal is given.

In the subsequent press briefing, Marcos said an immediate visit of a national official may only cause a disturbance on the local rescue and relief operations.

“I am staying away from going to the affected areas for a very simple reason: It has been my experience as a governor, it has been my experience in Yolanda that when the national officers come to the affected areas, ginugulo lang namin ang trabaho ng mga local,” he said.

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