A bad migraine forced President Duterte to skip a highly anticipated interview by television host Kris Aquino during an entrepreneurial summit in Davao City yesterday.
Presidential consultant for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said the President was not feeling well after arriving from a hectic two-day foreign visit.
“I know it’s a big disappointment but the President really tried very hard to come. He has a bad migraine and (Trade Secretary) Mon Lopez was with him in the morning flight and really has a tight schedule,” Concepcion said in his remarks at the summit organized by the Department of Trade and Industry and Go Negosyo.
The President returned to Davao City early yesterday morning after a two-day visit to Malaysia and Thailand. Duterte was supposed to attend the national micro, small, and medium enterprises summit dubbed “Growing Global MSMEs” at the SM Convention Center at 4 p.m. Part of the program was a town hall interview with the President called “Kris at Duterte.”
Reacting to Duterte’s absence, Aquino said she was “excited” to meet the President and even went on a two-week diet in preparation for the interview. Still, she expressed hope that her “date” with the President will push through soon.
“Minsan ang mga first date hindi natutuloy,” said Aquino, looking slimmer in a long tree dress for the event. When she learned Duterte had a migraine, Aquino quipped: “Maybe I have that effect on some men, mina-migrane talaga sa akin.”
She admitted that she called up her brother, former President Aquino, asking if she should still go on with the show after Duterte skipped the event.
Kris said her brother encouraged her to proceed with her commitment to the entrepreneurship event. “Tumawag ako at sinabi ko, ‘Noy I’m alone.’ Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘What do I do?’ Sabi niya, ‘You made a commitment. Nandyan ka for Go Negosyo, nandyan ka because you believe in Philippine economy at nandyan ka because you want everybody to included in the growth of our economy.’ So ituloy po natin ito di ba,” she said.
“Ganun po nangyayari talaga sa trabaho namin, minsan yung co-star mo nagkakasakit,” she added.
Aquino said she could not say if the recent events in the country forced the President to “snub” her in the Davao event.
She was apparently alluding to the Supreme Court decision allowing the burial of President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. Duterte has endorsed the Marcos burial, a position which the Aquino family and other human rights advocates have vigorously opposed. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)