President Rodrigo Duterte is set to fly to areas affected by typhoon “Ompong,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday. Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the President stayed in Manila to monitor the situation. We’ll see if we can also invite him but knowing him, he will be the first to go to the affected areas as soon as the weather will allow his choppers to take off,” Roque said. As of 2 p.m., “Ompong” was last spotted at around 110 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. It has gradually weakened, now with maximum sustained winds of 170 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 260 kph.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 15, 2018 08:10 UTC