Malacañang said on Thursday, Aug.11, that the attendance of former Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor in an official event of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was only a "social call."
Defensor's appearance during the MMDA press briefing was questioned by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday as the former is neither an official nor a consultant of the agency.
When sought for the Palace's reaction on the issue, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said, "There is no comment, the visit was just a social call."
Angeles also said that the circulating observations that the former Congressman may be appointed as the next MMDA chairman is merely a speculation at present.
"Right now, we have no information on that. As you know, you are right, there is a one-year ban. So, there will be no announcement as to who will be appointed even assuming that it’s going to be him. So, right now, that’s in the realm of speculation," Angeles said.
Candidates who ran in the previous election are not allowed to hold a public post until after a year. Defensor ran for mayor in Quezon City in the May polls.
The Palace also made no comment on the statements of Enrile to the allies of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., warning them over taking advantage of the President's kindness.
“Being the Legal Counsel of the President, I think I have a legal and moral duty to protect him from those who tend to take undue advantage of his kindness and their seeming closeness to him. Please! Masyado naman kayo. Huwag naman (You’re being too much. Please don’t do it),” Enrile said in a Facebook post.
“If you continue with that practice, I assure you, you will be clashing with my office. Stop it!” he added.
READ MORE: Stop it! Enrile warns Marcos’ allies over taking advantage of his kindness