Duterte under fire for Hong Kong trip as Filipinos reel from soaring inflation
MANILA, Philippines — Social media users hit President Rodrigo Duterte for going on an unannounced trip to Hong Kong with his family while Filipinos grapple with steep prices of commodities.
In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go uploaded photos of him, Duterte, the president's common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and presidential daughter Kitty in Hong Kong. They were seen dining, shopping for clothes and walking on the street.
Columnist Elen Tordesillas earlier posted a photo of Duterte wearing a black face mask inside a Uniqlo shop in Causeway Bay.
Accompanied by about 20 bodyguards, Duterte shopped in Hongkong with Honeylet and Kitty.https://t.co/znbNWU36ek #dutertehongkongoct6 pic.twitter.com/lWlOe38Qsa
— Ellen Tordesillas (@tordesillas) October 6, 2018
Go said the president needed to take a “rest” over the weekend.
Duterte’s sudden overseas trip came a day after inflation reached a fresh nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September.
Sharp increases were seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; housing, water, electricity and fuel; furnishing and household equipment; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services.
The trip also came three days after the chief executive revealed that he had gone to Cardinal Santos hospital for some tests and that his Barrett’s esophagus has gotten worse.
Social media users blast the president for flying to Hong Kong while the nation is suffering from rising costs of goods.
How can Duterte go on vacation days after the national inflation marks a record high rate of 6.7 percent? It only shows his total disregard and indifference to the people’s sentiments and demands. Duterte is a lame duck. #OctoberResistance
— KMP (@kmp_phl) October 8, 2018
Duterte Nagpahinga sa Hong Kong Habang Napapagod na Ang Mga Pilipino sa Kanya pic.twitter.com/YEPfiXHawQ
— Barurot News (@BarurotNews) October 6, 2018
Sa sobrang taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin sa Pilipinas, sa Hong Kong na namimili ang pamilyang Duterte.
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) October 7, 2018
My gahd!
Q: Bakit sa Hong Kong nag-shopping ang First Family?
— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) October 6, 2018
A: Kasi masyadong mahal dito sa Pilipinas.
kapal ng mukha netong mag-uniqlo eh buong pilipinas naghihirap dahil sa train law https://t.co/1kfNhMYIza
— kainoa ???? (@nancybenice) October 7, 2018
No. This is not about #Duterte "deserving rest." This is about going on a vacation, documenting the shopping, while nation IS IN FACT SUFFERING — even his own statistics office proves it. This makes him as insensitive as the haciendero President he hates. #DusaKayDuterte
— katrinastuartsantiago (@radikalchick) October 6, 2018
But some defended the president’s unscheduled trip.
“I really believe that he deserves private time. He has to stop and smell the flowers too… He works so hard. I think he deserves it,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
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