EXECUTIVE Secretary Lucas Bersamin yesterday described as “very confidential” and “private” the trip of President Marcos Jr. and some members of his family to Singapore during the weekend, the timing of which has been criticized as it happened on the heels of the onslaught of super typhoon “Karding.”
“We cannot be defensive about it. I am not going to be defensive about it. I would even dismiss the criticism that that is insensitive. You are entitled to your own private time, private moments. If you love to do something, you should not be moved or impacted by others who may not agree with you,” Bersamin said in mixed English and Filipino.
Bersamin said the Marcos family and House Speaker Martin Romualdez flew to Singapore to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix but, he said, the President still managed to mix some work during the trip. He said the President watched the event with his wife, First Lady Liza Marcos, and son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.
He said the President was able to meet with people “who were very relevant to our business activities or the running of our government.”
Bersamin did not reveal who paid for the trip, saying that it was “irrelevant” whether the trip was fully paid privately or otherwise since Marcos “still perform(ed) his job as president when he was abroad, although that is not an official state visit.”
“Whether it was a fully-paid trip or not is irrelevant,” he said, adding that the President could have even been invited and provided free tickets to the event to attract more people to attend since he can is a very important person (VIP).
“His presence there might have added some suspense or some intrigue or some importance to that event. Alam niyo, our President, naging matinee idol na e. His presence in an event like that will be well appreciated and it might have attracted more, audience-wise (His presence there might have added some suspense or some intrigue or some importance to that event. Our President is like a matinee idol. His presence in an event like that will be well appreciated and it might have attracted more, audience-wise),” he added.
Marcos, in a social media post late Monday night, confirmed his family’s trip to Singapore and said he would make public the results of his “productive” trip soon.
In a Facebook and Instagram post, the President said the visit to Singapore was “fulfilling” as he was invited “alongside several dignitaries and (to) have met new business friends who showed that they are ready and willing to invest in the Philippines.”
He added that while others “say that playing golf is the best way to drum up business, but I say it’s Formula 1. What a productive weekend! Will be sharing more details on this at a later time.”
Bersamin said it was “too soon” to say what the Philippines gained from the weekend trip.
Marcos and his entourage flew to Singapore over the weekend to watch the resumption of the Singapore Grand Prix which came weeks after his state visit to the City State and at the heels of his official visit to New York City in the United States. It happened barely a week after Karding hit the country.
