In a rare opportunity, Malacañang is happy with the remarks of former presidential sister Kris Aquino when she said she now understood why President Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 elections.
“Welcome on board, Kris Aquino,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing when asked to comment on Aquino’s social media rant on Sunday.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Aquino on Sunday hit broadcaster Korina Sanchez, wife of losing presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, after she featured her ex-husband James Yap on his magazine show “Rated K.”
Aquino, who earlier lashed out at Yap over his message to their son “Bimby,” said the feature on her ex-husband was “a slap on her face.”
She said she campaigned for Roxas even if it was against her will.
“Sampal sa mukha ko ang inilabas na feature ngayong gabi nung misis ni Mar Roxas,” Aquino wrote on her Instagram. “Yes, pinepersonal ko dahil binuwis ko ang kinabukasan namin ng mga anak ko ng walang inasahang kapalit.”
In her post, Aquino posted a photo of her and Duterte, saying it was now clear to her why Duterte won the presidency.
The President got 16 million votes during the 2016 national elections, which is six million votes over Roxas, his closest rival.
Aquino said Duterte had been good to her during his three visits to Davao, the hometown of the President.
Meanwhile, Roque backed Aquino’s good words for Duterte.
“Well, ang nabasa ko sa statement niya, ngayon lang, a few minutes… a few seconds before the press briefing was, walang masamang pinakita si Presidente Duterte sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya ano, noong nangangampanya siya para sa kanyang kapatid sa Davao,” Roque said.
“At alam mo, iyon din ang sinabi sa akin ni Presidente ha,” he added. “Kasi si Presidente noong ’86 revolution, nag-suporta kay Cory. At lahat ng kampanya ng pamilyang Aquino suportado ni Presidente Duterte sa Davao… and the mother of course, ’no, of the President.”