Malacañang is counting on local entertainer and blogger Mocha Uson to help boost the morale and well being of Filipino workers during President Duterte’s visit to the Middle East.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella confirmed that Uson, a board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, has joined the President’s visit to the Gulf states this week and defended her role in the trip.
“The appointed official of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board is part of the Philippine delegation,” Abella said.
“She has a large following among the overseas Filipino communities, especially in the Middle East, and it is in their interest that she has come to help boost morale and well-being,” he added.
Also joining Duterte as part of his official delegation was Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.
Marcos said she requested to be part of the visit. “I really requested to join because of the overseas, migrant, labor issues in the Middle East,” she said.
“Napakaraming Ilokano, napa-karaming kababaihan so importante sa akin na kahit papaano ay malaman ‘yung sitwasyon nila kung nag-improve na ba dahil ang pagkakaalam ko libu-libo pa rin ang naiiwan doon,” she added.
The President arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first leg of this three-nation swing in the Middle East Monday.
Duterte is scheduled to hold a meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to reaffirm a lasting friendship between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. He also intends to push for closer Philippine-Saudi cooperation, particularly in politico-security and defense, trade and investments, anti-narcotics, labor, energy, education, and culture.
Promoting bilateral trade and investment relations is also high on the agenda in his meetings with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain as well as Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar.
(Genalyn D. Kabiling and Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
