By Fernan Angeles
MALACAÑANG warded off criticisms over what has been described as delayed disaster-related Cabinet briefing, which was convened hours after super typhoon Rolly made its first and second landfall.
At the regular press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque insisted that the public briefing on erstwhile super typhoon Rolly, falls well within the standard response time for disaster management.
The world’s strongest storm so far this year had slammed into Catanduanes province around 5 hours before the briefing took place on Sunday. By the time the Cabinet officials met, the super typhoon had made the second of its four landfalls in Albay province.
“Inaasahan po nga natin ang landfall kahapon. At saka sa totoo lang po, araw ng Linggo iyon. Maski araw ng Linggo andito lahat ang kalihim para iparating ang kahandaan ng gobyerno sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga nasalanta,” said Roque.
“Ang tanong, bakit lang kahapon [ang briefing]? Kasi kahapon naman pumasok ang bagyo,” he told reporters.
Roque added that the disaster council also held briefings even before the storm wreaked havoc.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who is still in his hometown Davao City, did not attend Sunday’s briefing. He will visit areas hardest hit by this year’s strongest storm later Monday, said his former aide, Sen. Bong Go.
Rolly left at least 10 people dead, after it spawned landslides and floods in the southern part of the most populous island of Luzon, officials said.