Bongbong Marcos to gov’t response teams: Pay attention to aftershocks

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a call with government officials after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani. Photo from the Presidential Communications Office

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to remain vigilant of aftershocks following the magnitude 6.8 quake that jolted Sarangani.

Last Friday, Sarangani and surrounding areas were struck by the earthquake, which left at least nine people dead.

READ: Death toll from Mindanao earthquake rises to 9

In a video call recording released to the media on Monday, Marcos told officials from responding agencies that he had received their reports. The President was in Honolulu at the time to visit the Indo-Pacific Command.

READ: VP Duterte visits quake-hit Sarangani; condoles with affected families

“All of you have it well in hand so let’s just be vigilant, keep watching, we must pay attention to aftershocks because sometimes maraming nagiging casualty sa aftershock kasi akala nila tapos na, pinapasok yung mga bahay, pinapasok yung mga building, so bantayan natin ng mabuti yon,” Marcos said.

(All of you have it well in hand so let’s just be vigilant, keep watching, we must pay attention to aftershocks because sometimes there are a lot of casualties in aftershocks because they think it is done, they go back to houses and buildings, so we need to safeguard that well.)

READ: VP Duterte calls for calm after Mindanao earthquake

Present in the call were Department of Social Welfare and Development Usec. Edu Punay, Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, and other officials from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Vice President Sara Duterte is serving as the country’s caretaker while Marcos is abroad. However, she was not seen in the clip sent to the media.