Duterte conducts aerial inspection of Mount Mayon

Special Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go (foreground, left) accompanies President Rodrigo Duterte on an aerial inspection of Mount Mayon on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. (Photo courtesy of CHRISTOPHER GO)

LEGAZPI CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte made an aerial inspection of restive Mount Mayon on late Monday afternoon.

Duterte flew around Mayon shortly before 6 p.m. after his situation briefing with disaster and local officials here.

“Mag-chopper ako. Gusto kong pumunta doon. Sinong gusong maprito? Mahulog tayo doon…damay-damay na tayo,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said he was with Duterte during the aerial visit, along with members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), other military personnel, and the the President’s photographers.

As of this writing, Alert Level 4 remains hoisted over Mayon, which means a hazardous eruption remains possible.

Duterte flew to Albay as tens of thousands of residents remain in evacuation centers as ash continues to cover the towns within the 8-kilometer danger zone and lahar continued to flow from the volcano’s lava-filled Binaan channel due to heavy rains.

The President has handed over an initial P20 million for relief operations, while the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office gave an initial P5 million. /atm