(Eagle News)–The Palace has already rebuked Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V over his remark the trip to the Asian country of some Cabinet members with President Rodrigo Duterte was a reward for them.
This is according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who was named caretaker of the government while the President is in Japan.
“Let’s wait and see if there’ll be any further action by the President or by the SFA (Secretary of Foreign Affairs),” he said.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo has denied Laurel’s claims the trip of the 16 Cabinet members was a reward for the midterm election results that were favorable to the administration, saying that in the first place, Cabinet members were prohibited by the President from campaigning for the administration candidates during the last elections.
“It is therefore sans logic that they can be rewarded when they were disallowed from contributing to the reason or cause for the grant of reward,” Panelo said.
He said the presence of the Cabinet members was “necessary” as the Philippine delegation meet their counterparts in the Asian country.
