Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin defended President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s weekend trip to Singapore, saying it should not be an issue as "he was still performing his job as a President."
Bersamin pointed out that Marcos' trip to Singapore in time of the F1 Grand Prix was "undertaken for the interest of the Philippines." Thus, it must not be criticized.
Marcos' unannounced trip to the foreign country was questioned for its timing and the funds used for the trip.
Bersamin said they have no knowledge where the fund was sourced but he stressed that there was “no problem" whether public funds were spent during the trip as the President was there for the interest of the country.
"Wala kaming direct knowledge kung paano ang funding niyan (we have no direct knowledge how it was funded) but I am sure that if that was the trip of the President, you don't need to be too particular about where the funds were sourced kasi (because) he was still performing his job as a President when he was abroad," Bersamin told reporters on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
"If public funds were spent, walang problema diyan (there is no problem about that) kasi (because) that was also a trip undertaken for the interest of the Philippines," he added.
Bersamin said the President might have known that many big and important people will attend the Grand Prix, so he took advantage of it to attract investments and new partnerships.
He also said that people should not be "too rigid" in thinking that the trip should not be funded by taxes, because if indeed it was, it is the obligation of the government to ensure the safety of the President when he travels.
"The President and the first family are regarded with such a great value. They are part of the administrative code. The welfare of the first family is of concern of the state," he explained.
Assuming that the trip was a private one, the Palace official also defended the President, saying he is entitled to his private time.
"He could go there also for other purposes equally important, you may not call that a state visit, nonetheless is not any less covered by that law which accords great importance and value to the welfare of the first family," Bersamin said.
"So, it's beyond issue. It's not relevant at all to ask kung sino ang gumastos basta (who funded it as long as) he was doing something for us," he added.
The Palace official also cited security reasons on why the trip was not announced to the public beforehand.
Bersamin also said he does not think the move of the President to go to Singapore after the onslaught of typhoon Karding was insensitive.
"We cannot be defensive about it. I am not going to be defensive about it, I will even dismiss ‘yung (the) criticism because it's so...’yun ang insensitive ‘yung criticism (those are insensitive, the criticisms). You are entitled to your own private time, private moment etc," he said.
Marcos has dubbed Formula 1 as the "best way to drum up business," saying his trip to Singapore was productive.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin defends President Marcos Jr.'s weekend trip to Singapore, saying there's no need to be particular about the funding of the trip as "he was still performing his job as a President."
MPC Pool @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/DFOMMA6gPB
— Betheena Unite (@MB_unite) October 4, 2022