Palace shrugs off feng shui expert’s warning to Duterte

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers a speech after leading the distribution of benefits to former rebels at the San Isidro Central School in Leyte on January 23, 2020. VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – Malacañang on Sunday brushed aside a feng shui expert’s warning to President Rodrigo Duterte to be extra careful to avoid possible scandals this year.

For Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the Chief Executive facing controversies is nothing new.

“Unang-una, kung ako tatanungin mo, hindi naman ako naniniwala sa feng shui. But kanya-kanyang paniniwala na ‘yun (First and foremost, if I were to ask, then I wouldn’t believe in feng shui. But we have different beliefs),” Panelo said in an interview with dzIQ.

“Pangalawa, ano pa bang mga bagong iskandalo? Eh di ba tinatapunan siya ng mga iskandalo. Tumataas naman ang rating niya (Second, what would the new scandals be? He has been facing scandals. Despite this, his rating continues to go up),” he added.

Joey Yap, feng shui and Chinese astrology consultant, said the President would likely use his “problem-solving skills to his advantage,” particularly in boosting the Philippine economy during the Year of the Metal Rat, according to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Yap, the report said, also warned that Duterte “would also likely create some scandals, if not carefully managed”

Despite this, Panelo said the President would remain firm with his resolve to improve the lives of Filipinos under his watch.

“Basta si Pangulo, nagta-trabaho siya. Gaya nga ng sinabi niya, he couldn’t care less, que matuwa kayo o hindi, bigyan niyo ako ng approval rating na mataas o mababa (The President is just doing his job. Just like what he said, he could not care less. He doesn’t care if people will be happy or not or if they will give them high or low approval rating),” the Palace official said.

“Basta ang tungkulin ko ay paglingkuran ko kayo at pangalagaan ko ang inyong kaligtasan sa paraan na alam kong ikabubuti ninyo, anuman ang mangyari sa buhay ko, sa aking kalayaan, at sa aking kalusugan (He said it’s his job to serve and protect them, even if might put his life, freedom, and health at a disadvantage),” he added.

Duterte has repeatedly pledged to fight illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption in government.

Early this year, he also vowed to rectify government contracts with private firms that would be found detrimental to the country.

Panelo reiterated that there is no reason for oligarchs to get worried, as long as they are complying with the law.

“He will kill the desire of the rich to steal money from the taxpayers, from the consumers,” he said.

“Kung wala ka naming masamang ginagawa sa kapwa mo, hindi ka matatakot sa iyong kaligtasan. Wala namang gagawa sa’yo nang masama (If you are not doing anything wrong to others, there’s no need to fear for your safety. No one will harm you),” Panelo added.