Even Duterte shuns special treatment, Palace on Bertiz viral video

“I would rather wait hanggang matapos ang imbestigasyon because right now hindi pa talaga natin alam ang pangyayari (wait until investigation is finished because right now, we really don’t know what really happened).” Roque said. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOe

MANILA — If President Rodrigo R. Duterte can follow airport security checks, so should lawmakers, especially administration allies, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III drew flak for a viral video which showed him supposedly refusing to take off his shoes in an airport security check at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sept. 29.

In the soundless video, Bertiz argued with a security officer and refused to take off his shoes because there were Chinese-looking passengers who did not go through the same airport security procedure.

Roque said Malacañang would rather await results of investigation conducted by NAIA on the incident before making a comment, but reminded solons that the President himself complies with airport security checks.

“I would rather wait hanggang matapos ang imbestigasyon because right now hindi pa talaga natin alam ang pangyayari (wait until investigation is finished because right now, we really don’t know what really happened),” Roque said.

“We will issue a statement siguro when we have received the official investigation report from NAIA. For now, let’s defer any statement or any judgement on the incident,” he added.

Roque said Duterte has shunned special treatment not only in airports, but also during convoys where he would insist on stopping at red traffic lights.

“Even the President complies with the security checks of the airport. He goes through the X-ray machine and he does not ask for any special treatment,” Roque said.

“Let’s learn by way of example by what the President is doing. Hindi po humingi ng special treatment ang Presidente (The President does not seek for special treatment),” he added.

Duterte repeatedly asked government officials not to seek for special treatment since they were working for the benefit of the people.

Critics earlier slammed Bertiz for allegedly disobeying security protocol and disrespecting security personnel stressing that the way administration allies behaved was a reflection of the President.

Roque, however, shrugged this off noting that critics were trying too hard to hurl new issues against the President after his net satisfaction rating recovered to “very good” in the third quarter from its record low “good” last quarter.

“Wala na silang maibatong issue kasi umakyat na naman ang ratings ng Presidente to very good (They have no new issue to hurl against the President after his rating improved to very good),” Roque said.

“Akala nila nagtagumpay sila na sumadsad na ang ratings, sorry na lang po sila (They thought they have succeeded when his ratings dropped, how unfortunate for them),” he added.