Duterte fires Honeylet’s cousin in urban poor commission

MANILA, Philippines — One of the urban poor commissioners fired by President Duterte is a cousin of his partner Honeylet Avanceña.

Duterte said he has informed Honeylet that he had axed Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) commissioner Melissa Avanceña Aradanas.

“Pati siya tinanggal ko (I also fired her), but I told my wife, ‘You call your cousin and say, alis sila’ (they should leave),” the President said during a Christmas party he hosted for journalists covering Malacañang on Tuesday. 

Duterte said the appointment of Aradanas did not violate laws against nepotism, saying he and Honeylet are not married. “Forget it, we are not married. It does not apply. Only when you are married. At saka malayo na (Besides, it’s a distant relation),” Duterte said. 

Duterte on Tuesday dismissed PCUP chairman Terry Ridon, Aradanas and other commissioners over alleged junkets and failure to hold meetings.

Other PCUP commissioners dismissed were Joan Lagunda, Manuel Serra Jr. and Noe Indonto.

Aradanas started working for the PCUP in 1996. She was appointed commissioner last year.

Aradanas used to be part of the special operations group that led the preparations for former president Joseph Estrada’s sorties in various cities. She also served as an area coordinator in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Kidapawan, Tacurong and Koronadal.

Aradanas completed preparatory dentistry at the Ateneo de Davao University and her dental medicine degree at the Manila Central University. She passed the board of dentistry examination in 1994 and finished bachelor of laws at the Cor Jesu College of Law in 2012. 

Urban poor junkets

Duterte said he fired Ridon, a former representative of the left-leaning Kabataan party-list at the House of Representatives, because the PCUP head had seven to eight foreign trips since his appointment last year.

Ridon has denied his travels were junkets, saying his trips “had given voice to the urban poor in international conferences on public housing, poverty alleviation and climate change.”

But Duterte rejected Ridon’s explanation, saying there was no need to attend all seminars outside the country. 

“It does not really matter what it is but you cannot use the money of the people every time there is a meeting outside the Philippines,” the President said during the ceremonial destruction of terrorists’ firearms at Fort Bonifacio yesterday.

“Do not tell me you will attend all conventions and seminars. And to think that your office is the office of the urban poor,” he added. 

Duterte is also not buying Ridon’s claim that his foreign trips were productive. 

“You claim ‘I was there for a productive (event). I don’t believe in that sh**,” he said. 

Duterte advised officials not to compete with him on foreign trips. 

“They say I travel a lot. Fine, let’s exchange places. You know, we cannot all be presidents. That is the problem. There are so many incongruities in this life,” Duterte said. 

“Anybody who wants to travel, go to the people, ask them to elect you as president but do not compete with me because I also have fears for my life because I cannot be physically fit all the time,” he added. 

Duterte insisted that he does not enjoy foreign travel because of jet lag. He cited his experience as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which required him to attend an early morning event even if he had just arrived from Vietnam.

“I almost collapsed,” he remarked. “It’s not an easy job. It’s not a walk in the park.”