MANILA – Several members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet denied that their inclusion in the chief executive’s four-day working visit in Japan was a reward following the dominance of administration-backed candidates in the 2019 midterm elections.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the trip was not Duterte’s payoff, as alleged by Philippine Ambassador to Tokyo Jose Laurel in an interview on Tuesday.
“Hindi naman. Puro halos wala sa kampanya ang mga kasamang opisyal,” Medialdea said. “May mga kanya-kanyang trade missions ang mga kasamang gabinete. Hindi po sila dekorasyon sa summit. Trabaho lang ‘yan.”
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, for his part, said his inclusion on Duterte’s trip was an opportunity for him and fellow cabinets to encourage the Japanese businessman to invest in the country.
“We maximize (Duterte’s) presence and have him speak to several investments fora, and we conduct deal signing, business matching and networking, roundtable meetings with President Duterte and investors and secretaries do join as an opportunity to dialogue with the foreign business community,” Lopez said.
Laurel, in an interview with Filipino reporters in Tokyo, said he sees the large delegation of Duterte as part of reward for their election victory, particularly in the Senate race.
“Why do you bring 20 Cabinet members here,” Laurel said. “But I think the President is so elated with the results of the midterm elections that this is an affirmation of what his administration does in the last three years. Parang pabuya.”
According to a list provided by Malacañang, the official delegation accompanying the President to Japan includes Medialdea, Lopez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Acting Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito Galvez Jr.
The President’s trip would be shouldered by Nikkie Inc., the organizer of the 25th International Conference on The Future of Asia./PN
