Duterte’s official residence not spared

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte was not spared by the wrath of Typhoon Ulysses after the nearby Pasig River overflowed to some areas of the Malago Clubhouse – the official residence of the Chief Executive within the Malacañang compound.

Photos provided by Sen. Christopher Go showed that the covered pathway leading to the Malago guesthouse was flooded with the river’s murky waters.

But this did not dampen the spirits of Duterte who juggled his video attendance at the first day of the 37th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits hosted by Vietnam yesterday and the inspection of some areas affected by the storm.

After attending the opening ceremony, the President delivered his intervention in the plenary before taping his message to the Filipino people who were feeling the brunt of the typhoon that left many areas flooded.

In Marikina City and Rodriguez in Rizal as well as areas in Pasig, the floodwaters were as high as the second level of houses.

In his address to the people, Duterte said he has been raring to conduct an inspection of the affected areas in Metro Manila but his security aides and doctors prevailed upon him.

Duterte was scheduled to get a situation briefing from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.