MANILA – The President’s supposed partying in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Sendong, as confirmed by an actress who attended the event, has sparked a debate on the propriety of his actions in the midst of tragedy.
President Benigno Aquino III attended the Christmas party for Malacañang employees on Sunday, said actress Valerie Concepcion who was invited to perform during the event.
“Yes, the President attended the gathering. I do not see anything wrong with that because it’s his obligation and responsibility being the head of Malacañang to be present and show his support for his hardworking employees and their respective families,” Concepcion tweeted at 3:21 a.m. on Monday.
“But I believe that it doesn’t mean that the President is not thinking of ways to help our kababayans in Mindanao,” she said. “Let’s not be too quick to judge.”
GMA News Online is still trying to reach Palace officials for comment as of posting time.
Earlier, in a tweet that has been deleted from Concepcion’s Twitter timeline but has been captured through screen grabs, the actress said, “It was nice to see PNoy laughing at my jokes and enjoying my performance.”
Concepcion has apologized for this tweet.
“If I, in any way, offended you guys and sounded insensitive, I am very sorry. It wasn’t my intention to do either. I can’t imagine how difficult life is for the people affected in Mindanao and how difficult it is to be the president of the Philippines at this moment,” she said.
‘Not her fault’
Journalist Inday Espina-Varona, however, said Concepcion “had no cause for apology.”
“She is an entertainer. She was earning her living. Any performer would be darn pleased to have the President of the Republic chortling at her wit,” Varona said in a blog entry Monday morning.
The party took place when the Philippine Red Cross had reported close to 600 deaths from Sendong, Varona noted.
She said Aquino’s supporters would argue that canceling the party “would not have helped victims of Sendong.” Varona acknowledged their point, as caterers and suppliers for major parties “usually collect most, if not all, of what they’re owed before an event.”
“Critics, however, say that the party hosts should have asked for a refund and donated the cash to agencies helping the displaced families. Indeed, many parties being held across the country last night became aid sessions where cash is collected,” the journalist added.
To the argument that Aquino did not need to seize photo opportunities as his predecessor did in times of calamity, Varona replied: “There is grandstanding. And then there is a genuine need for leadership gestures.”(Paterno Esmaquel II, GMA News)
Link: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/242082/news/nation/pnoys-partying-in-sendong-aftermath-sparks-debate-on-propriety
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