By GENALYN D. KABILING
President Duterte deserves to relax and enjoy his family vacation in Hong Kong given that he has been working hard in office, a Palace official said yesterday.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar issued the statement in defense of the President’s private visit to Hong Kong this weekend.
Duterte has left the country without previous notice for a weekend vacation with his longtime partner Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Veronica in Hong Kong. They were expected to fly back home last night.
“Alam mo naman si Presidente nabanggit na dati na he’s fond of going to Hong Kong before. I think he really deserves his family time. Sarili niyang oras na makapag ikot-ikot, makain siguro yung pagkain na gusto niya o mabil ang damit na gusto niya,” Andanar said.
“He deserves this. Napaka-hardworking ni Presidente Duterte so mas maganda na mag-enjoy nang mag-enjoy lang siya doon na walang istorbo,” he added.
Andanar brushed aside criticisms about the President’s unannounced Hong Kong vacation while the nation was enduring high consumer prices.
He claimed that the President’s detractors would not stop criticizing his every move. “Basta Mr. President, relax ka lang diyan. Hayaan mo na ang mga critics mo. Ang mahalaga ay ang taumbayan natin more than 80 percent na kababayaan natin ay naniniwala sa iyo,” he said.
Andanar said the President was expected to return to work as soon as he returns from Hong Kong.
He noted that the President is scheduled to travel to Bali, Indonesia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders’ Gathering this week.
“Mr. President, just relax muna dahil pagbalik mo sa Manila, bakbakan uli sa trabaho at mayroon ka pang mga foreign trips, mayroon ka pang trip sa Bali na kailangan atupagin,” he said.
Malacanang confirmed the President was out of the country Saturday night only after photos of Duterte and his family shopping in in Hong Kong circulated online. The President was in Hong Kong to have a brief rest, according to his assistant Christopher Go.
The President’s visit to Hong Kong came a few days after his hospital visit to undergo a second colonoscopy.
