MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was “shocked” by the scuffle that broke out among Barretto sisters Gretchen, Marjorie and Claudine at the wake of their father Miguel, according to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Na-shock rin kami nung nakita namin. Parang shooting din,” Go, former presidential aide, told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the incident.
[We were also shocked when we saw it. It was like they were shooting a movie.]
He said the President wanted to condole with the family and hoped to reconcile the sisters, who ate tangled in a decades-long feud.
“Pumunta po siya [the President] doon para makiramay po sa pamilya. Nagmamagandang loob po ang ating Pangulo na kung saka-sakali naman po ay pwedeng mapagbati sila,” he added.
[The President went to the wake to condole with the family. He was hoping that the sisters would reconcile.]
Go confirmed reports that Presidential Security Group (PSG) intervened in the fight, saying: “Ang PSG talagang pag merong isang area na pinipuntahan ng Pangulo. In control dapat sila sa situation.”
[It’s the job of the PSG job to control the situation wherever the President goes.]
The senator said Marjorie apologized to the President shortly after the incident.
“After nilang nagaway, sa isang tabi nag-apologize si Marjorie sa Pangulo sa nangyari: ‘I’m so sorry, Mr. President. Pati ikaw nadamay pa’,” Go recounted.
[After the fight, Marjorie apologized to the President: ‘I’m so sorry, Mr. President that you got dragged into this.]
Go said, however, that he did not see who started the fight.
“Baka gawin pa nila akong witness,” he said in jest.
[They might even make me a witness.]
/atm