Gov’t officials on ice bucket challenge: Cold blooded vs cold shoulder

Secretary Leila De Lima reacts after being doused in ice-cold water while participating in the ALS Ice Bucket challenge. ALEXIS CORPUZ

MANILA, Philippines— So who accepted the viral ice bucket challenge and who got the cold feet?

Lawmakers and government officials got on the bandwagon and have accepted the ice bucket challenge, a social media drive that aims to raise awareness on the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative nerve ailment also known as the Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Two powerful members of the Aquino cabinet agreed to do the ice bucket challenge.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares had themselves doused with freezing water.

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas” II also accepted the challenge to have a bucket of ice-cold water dumped on him.

Roxas then nominated Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima who also did the challenge.

Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. also took the ice bucket challenge and vowed to donate $100 for the victims of ALS.

However, many government officials, including President Benigno Aquino III declined to do the challenge.

Aquino said he would decline if someone nominates him to do the challenge, citing he has a cold.

Aquino’s spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda, also declined the challenge, saying he also has a cold and fever.

Lacierda, however, vowed to donate to the ALS organization.

Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he would not accept the challenge posed by former-ally-turned-nemesis, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson.

“Why? I don’t need to wash myself. Maybe it’s [he] who needs it. He has many sins,” Estrada said.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also nixed the challenge, saying he just came out of the hospital and has pneumonia.

The tough-talking Duterte was dared by De Lima.

In its website, the ALS Association said it has received $ 94.3million in donations as of August 27.

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