Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Malacañang apologized on Saturday for the inverted presidential seal on President Rodrigo Duterte’s rostrum when he spoke at a tourism event in Davao City on Friday night.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the error, which happened during the President’s speech at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, was an “act of omission.”
“An error was committed in the installation of the presidential seal at an event in Davao City. There was, however, no attempt to embarrass the President,” Abella said.
“A careful study determined the incident as an act of omission. Appropriate measures have been taken against those responsible,” he added.
When asked what these “appropriate measures” were, Abella said: “That’s administrative. Not our territory.”
The President spoke before the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour Philippine Reception which involved Filipino-Americans touring the country.
But as the President started his speech, which eventually lasted for around an hour, netizens noticed that the presidential seal was upside down.
Abella said all offices involved in presidential visits and coverages have, “upon meticulous review, instituted procedures to prevent the occurrence of a similar incident.”
“All offices concerned sincerely apologize for the incident and renewed the shared commitment to uphold the highest standard of service and support for the President and all his engagements,” he said.