Duterte frowns on baby back ribs, eats sardines

A photo which Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said was taken by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea shows President Rodrigo Duterte having sardines during the Cabinet meeting on Monday, April 1, 2019. PHOTO FROM MANNYPIñOL FACEBOOK PAGE

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte refused the food prepared for the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Monday and asked for sardines, Agriculture Sec. Manny Piñol said.

On his social media account, Piñol posted photos taken by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea showing President Duterte enjoying his “sardinas,” his viand during the Cabinet meeting.

Piñol said the prepared food for members of the Cabinet were baby back ribs with vegetables and rice, which Duterte refused.

“Ayaw ko nyan. Bigyan nyo ako ng sardinas (I don’t like that, give me sardines),” the President said, referring to a common staple of poor  Filipino households.

Piñol said even if he already occupied the highest position in the country, the President still refused to forget his humble beginnings. /cbb