DAVAO CITY (MindaNews /11 Nov) — President Rodrigo was a no show Friday evening at the Townhall Interview with TV host Kris Aquino, sister of former President Benigno Aquino III, allegedly due to severe migraine.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez broke the news before 700 participants who waited hours for the town hall discussion, which was supposed to be the last session of the two-day National MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) Summit 2016 that opened on Thursday.
He said Duterte was not feeling well after arriving from Thailand and Malaysia.
Kris Aquino at the Town Hall Interview of the National MSME Summit 2016 at SMX Convention Center in Davao City on November 11, 2016. President Rodrigo Duterte was a no show as officials said he was suffering from a severe migraine. Photo courtesy of DTI Region XI
Shortly after the announcement. Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, also founder of Go Negosyo, went up the stage and said the President was suffering from severe migraine.
Duterte, along with his senior officials arrived at F. Bangoy International Airport here at past 4 a.m. Friday, delivered his arrival speech and addressed questions by the media.
The town hall discussion pushed through without the President.
“Minsan first date hindi natutuloy. Mr. Presidente pinaghandaan kita nag-diet ako ng dalawang linggo,” Aquino joked.
“Inisnab ako…. (He snubbed me). … Mr. President, I hope one day mahalin mo rin ako” (you will also love me) she said before hundreds of MSME entrepreneurs from across the country.
In jest, she said she probably has the effect of making people suffer migraine.
Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Special Assistant to the President, told MindaNews Duterte did not intend to snub the affair but could not make it as he was suffering from severe migraine. The media advisory from the Media Accreditation and Relations Office evening of November 9 indicated two events on November 11: Duterte’s arrival from an official visit to Malaysia and “attendance to the National MSME Summit 2016.”
Promotional campaign for the November 11, 2016 event.
“Kris at Duterte” had also been promoted by TV 5, PTV4 and through social media, urging the public to watch out for it. “Abangan.”
It was Aquino’s first hosting seven months after taking a leave from the television industry citing health reasons.
The first town hall discussion was held during the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ‘s Mentor Me program on November 7. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews, with reports)
