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Duterte dismisses criticisms over grandkid’s Palace photo shoot
Isabelle Duterte’s photo shoot in the Palace. (Photo: garimonroferos/Instagram)
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday jumped to his granddaughter Isabelle Lovelie’s defense after her recent pre-debut photo shoot in Malacañang was criticized by the public.
Isabelle Duterte, daughter of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and ex-wife Lovelie Sangkola Sumera, took a team of sought after stylists and make-up artist to the Palace last Thursday for a photo shoot in preparation for her 18th birthday celebration.
During the 39th birthday celebration of Senator Manny Pacquiao in General Santos City, Duterte said the photo shoot of her granddaughter in the Presidential residence is a non-issue.
“Ano ba naman ‘yan? Kadugo ko ‘yan eh. Small matter, gamitin lang ‘yung Malacañan. Wala naman ako doon (Come on. She is my blood. That’s a small matter, she just used Malacañang. I was not even there),”Duterte said.
“But even if I was there, itong granddaughter ko magpa-picture, lahat nga ng mga bisita pumupunta diyan, nagpapa-picture eh (She just had her photos taken, all visitors who went there does the same thing),” he added.
Malacañang earlier defended the Presidential granddaughter, saying that this matter should not be an issue and that her team probably underwent proper documentation prior to the photo shoot.
“Everything has to go through a process here. If I’m not mistaken even ‘yung pagpasok sa (just the mere entry) Malacañang has to be recorded somewhere, it has to be approved,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told Malacañang reporters.
“I do not know who requested but they already opted not to live in the Palace. Kung ginusto nila, pwede silang tumira doon at our expense. Hindi naman po nila ginawa ‘yun. ‘Wag naman po nating ipagkait ‘yung photo opportunity sa loob ng Palasyo (If they want, they could live there at our expense. They did not do that. Let’s not deny a photo opportunity inside the Palace),” he added.
Roque likened Duterte’s grandchild to ordinary Filipino people who have their photos taken in Malacañang.
“Gaya sila ng ordinaryong mamamayan na pwedeng magpapicture-picture sa Malacañang (They are like ordinary citizens who can have picture-taking in Malacañang),” he said.
The public’s criticism came after Isabelle’s stylists shared on Instagram photos of her pre-debut photo shoot.
In the photos, the Presidential granddaughter was seen wearing various outfits, including a gown in a deep crimson shade designed by Garimon Roferos, a Davao-based designer who also made waves in Dubai.
The photos caused a stir among netizens particularly the one in which Isabelle is seen posing in between the Philippine and Presidential flags and under the Presidential seal.
According to Roque, the soon-to-be debutante did not violate any law or executive order when she took a photo of her by the Presidential symbols.
“Sa akin, wala namang masama doon. Nag-pose lang for birthday pictures yung apo ni Presidente (To me there’s nothing wrong with that. She just posed for her birthday pictures),” he said.
Signed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004, section 3 of Executive Order no. 310 states that the Coat-of-Arms, Seal, and Flag of the President of the Philippines or the Vice President of the Philippines “shall be exclusively used to represent the President of the Philippines of the Vice President of the Philippines, respectively.”
Isabelle is expected to celebrate her 18th birthday on January 26, 2018.
