President Rodrigo Duterte is under fire again following his absence at the disaster briefing for Typhoon Rolly.
Netizens asked where the President was amidst Rolly’s devastation in several provinces. His absence even resulted to hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo trending on Twitter.
Typhoon Rolly was reported to be the strongest typhoon to hit this year, that’s why people are wary of the damage it caused and expected the President to address the nation to somehow ease their worries.
However, Duterte was a no show at the typhoon briefing and who according to his personal aide, Senator Bong Go, was in Davao City monitoring the situation.
“Senator Go: Nasa Mindanao ang Pangulo at nakamonitor po siya. Anytime, pwede siyang bumalik sa Maynila, kung papayagan ng weather.”
Senator Go: Nasa Mindanao ang Pangulo at nakamonitor po siya. Anytime, pwede siyang bumalik sa Maynila, kung papayagan ng weather
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) October 31, 2020
But that didn’t calm netizens’ outrage over Duterte’s inaction and unavailability when the nation needed his sense of leadership.
Netizen @whuaffee slammed Duterte for asking for too many emergency powers in the past but is always absent during national emergencies.
“Gahaman sa Emergency Power pero di mo mahagilap pag may Emergency?? Luhhh”
https://twitter.com/whuaffee/status/1322729047475032065
Former SolGen Atty. Pilo Hilbay said that his presence would have been a sign of leadership because “absence is abandonment of duty”.
“To ask #NasaanAngPangulo is not to demand the impossible–that he stop #RollyPh. It’s to ask: where’s the highest official of the country being battered by the strongest typhoon of the year? In a time of crisis, presence is a sign of leadership. Absence is abandonment of duty.”
To ask #NasaanAngPangulo is not to demand the impossible–that he stop #RollyPh. It's to ask: where's the highest official of the country being battered by the strongest typhoon of the year?
In a time of crisis, presence is a sign of leadership. Absence is abandonment of duty.
— Florin Hilbay (@fthilbay) November 1, 2020
Francis Baraan IV meanwhile, taunted Duterte’s absence by sharing a picture of him sleeping inside a mosquito net a potent DDS propaganda to show Duterte’s “humility”.
“#NasaanAngPangulo is trending again, b/c amidst the pandemic and supertyphoon Rolly, Duterte is missing in action (MIA) again. Apparently, Bong Go released a statement yesterday saying that the President is in Mindanao. And I could only think of 1 thing he is doing there.”
#NasaanAngPangulo is trending again, b/c amidst the pandemic and supertyphoon Rolly, Duterte is missing in action (MIA) again.
Apparently, Bong Go released a statement yesterday saying that the President is in Mindanao. And I could only think of 1 thing he is doing there.
THIS: pic.twitter.com/D8mwmLDO7k
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) November 1, 2020
Another netizen, @yogawithben on the other hand compared Duterte to Gloria Arroyo who he said was an evil president but was often present during times of calamities.
“Even the most evil of presidents understood the importance of being visible during a super typhoon. Si Digong, di lang walang puso. Wala ding utak. #NasaanAngPangulo“
Even the most evil of presidents understood the importance of being visible during a super typhoon. Si Digong, di lang walang puso. Wala ding utak. #NasaanAngPangulo pic.twitter.com/K2J8wqxAgk
— Ben Bernabe (@yogawithben) November 1, 2020
Activist and mental health advocate Dr. RJ Naguit meanwhile also slammed Duterte’s absence saying he already failed with the pandemic.
“No President can control a super typhoon but crafting a proactive response is well within his purview. Bagsak na sa pandemya, kamote pa sa pagresponde sa bagyo. #NasaanAngPangulo”
No President can control a super typhoon but crafting a proactive response is well within his purview.
Bagsak na sa pandemya, kamote pa sa pagresponde sa bagyo. #NasaanAngPangulo https://t.co/7dprZvd9Yi
— RJ Naguit 🌹 (@raymond_naguit) November 1, 2020
Award-winning writer and known Duterte-critic Jerry Gracio also chided Duterte for his absence saying while the typhoon is currently devastating parts of the country. the President is still asleep.
“Humahagupit na si Rolly. Tulóg pa rin si Rody.”
Humahagupit na si Rolly.
Tulóg pa rin si Rody.
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) October 31, 2020
Same with Kowboy Santos who said that Rolly had already left the West Philippine Sea and yet the President is still inside his infamous mosquito net.
“Si Rolly naka labas na ng West Philippine Sea. si Rody di pa naka labas sa kulambo”
si Rolly naka labas na ng West Philippine Sea.
si Rody di pa naka labas sa kulambo
— KowboySantos (@Kowboy2Legiiit) November 1, 2020
During the press briefing on Monday, Malacañang and the disaster council said, “Dapat hindi mangamba ang ating mga kababayan bakit hindi nila nakikita si Presidente because he has that luxury. The government is functioning from the local government unit up to the national level.”
