TACLOBAN CITY –– The long-time partner of President Duterte visited Basey town in Samar province on Wednesday to distribute food packs to at least 1,300 residents.
Cielito ‘Honeylet’ Avanceña gave spaghetti noodles, canned goods, and five kilograms of rice to some residents of San Antonio, May-it, and Can-abay villages.
The presidential common-law wife arrived at the site at past 11 a.m. and left after 30 minutes.
The wives of some Cabinet members accompanied Avanceña.
Virginia Badal, councilwoman of Barangay May-it, said they were informed about Avanceña’s visit last Monday.
“We were informed that madame’s visit will be private and no politicians were to be invited,” Badal said in a phone interview.
At the site, she said they were ordered by the presidential security guards to turn off their mobile phones and not to take any photo of Mr. Duterte’s common-law wife.
“But still, we were happy that she visited us. It’s our first time to see her in person and she is beautiful,” Badal said.
She said a private entity donated the goodies distributed by Avanceña.
Badal said Avanceña promised to return to Basey to give livelihood assistance, particularly to housewives, so “we will not be dependent on our husbands.”
Mercy Caboboy, Basey information officer, said they did not know about Avanceña’s visit.