Despite belonging to the age group vulnerable to COVID-19, Malacañang said President Duterte insisted on going to Zamboanga to talk to the soldiers and the police officers involved in the Jolo incident that resulted in the death of four soldiers.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said over state-run PTV-4 that President Duterte will go to Zamboanga because he wants to know the truth and to assure soldiers that justice will be served.

"Alam po niya na merong mga masasama ang loob lalo na doon sa parte ng ating hukbong sandatahan, na ang feeling nila naging biktima sila ng murder sa kamay ng ating kapulisan (He knows that some soldiers feel that the soldiers who died were victims of murder by the police)," he said Friday.

"Nandoon po ang Presidente para magbigay ng assurance na makakamit po ang katarungan (The President is there to assure them that justice will be served)," he added.

 "Kung merong nagkasala, mapaparusahan po dahil ganyan naman po ang administrasyon ni Presidenteng Duterte (If someone commits a crime, he will be punished because that's how it is under the Duterte administration)," he said.

Roque said the President will assure both parties during his separate meeting with them that this will be the last "misencounter" to happen under his term.

Duterte's health

Roque said they are worried about the President going out because he is vulnerable to COVID-19. However, Duterte insisted on going out to carry out his "important mission."

"Of course, we are . Pero talagang hindi na po mapipigilan ang Presidente. Kung masusunod po ang PSG, ayaw pa po siyang palabasin talaga ng Bahay Pangarap (But we cannot really stop the President. If the Presidential Security Group will have its way, it won't allow him to go out of Bahay Pangarap)," Roque said.

"So he is risking his life by going to Zamboanga pero ganoon po ka-importante ang misyon niya para po makiisa, hindi lang sa hukbong sandatahan, pati na rin sa kapulisan (because that's how important his mission is in order to be with the soldiers and the police)," he added.

Roque said President Duterte was extremely saddened by the incident.

According to the police, the soldiers pointed their firearms at them after trying to flee from them. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denied the version of the police and labeled the incident as a rubout and murder.