Alvarez’s birthday celeb “not extravagant,” Palace says

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte witnesses the program proper during the birthday celebration of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez at the New Tagum City Hall in Davao del Norte on January 12, 2017. Also in the photo are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has come on Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s defense, assuring the public that his recent birthday celebration attended by President Rodrigo Duterte was not excessive.

“There was nothing lavish about the affair, I can assure you that,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

Roque said that the birthday party was “simple” despite the attendance of high government officials.

Apart from Duterte, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, Russian Ambassador to Manila Igor Khovaev, and other partisans of the ruling Partido Demokratiko – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) graced the event.

Television host Boy Abunda and singer Jed Madela were also present during the birthday party.

Roque reiterated that it was “not extravagant”, saying it was only held in the Tagum City Hall in Davao.

“Totoo po maraming naimbita, kasi halos lahat ng miyembro ng Kongreso naroon, halos lahat ng Gabinete nandoon at nandoon ang Presidente [It is true that there were many invitees, because almost all of the members of the Congress and almost all of the Cabinet members were present and the president is also there],” Roque said.

“Pero simple lang naman po simple ang programa, simple ang pagkain, marami lang talagang tao dahil kinakailangan ding isama sa pagsasaya iyong kaniyang mga constituents doon sa Tagum City [But it was only simple. The program was simple and only simple food was served. There were a lot of people only because it is the constituents in Tagum City should also be included in the party],” he added.

It can be recalled that the president expressed zero tolerance on graft and corruption and lavish lifestyle among government officials.

Duterte already fired some government officials for their alleged excessive foreign trips. Among them are former Dangerous Drugs Board chief Dionisio Santiago, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chief Terry Ridon, and Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Marcial Amaro III.

Earlier, Duterte also announced the dismissal of a chairman of an agency, three generals, and numerous policemen for alleged involvement in corrupt practices.

Just this week, Duterte fired Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Patricia Licuanan also for supposed extravagant travels.