DOTr: Tugade was only having fun with employees in viral video

Screen grab from the viral video posted by Pinoy Ako Blog shows Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade supposedly “sharing a kiss” with a female employee.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) was prompted to issue a statement on Tuesday after an old video of Secretary Arthur Tugade taken during a Christmas party two years ago has gone viral on social media.

Tugade was seen in the video biting what looked like small bread. A woman bit the same bread briefly at the other end, making it look like they shared a kiss.

According to the DOTr, Tugade was only having fun with the employees.

In this screen grab from the video posted by Pinoy Ako Blog on Facebook, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade is seen having fun with the female employee after “the kiss.”

“We find it unfortunate and rather sad that known critics of the administration had to pull an old video of Secretary Arthur Tugade having clean fun with employees, and put malice where there is none,” the DOTr said in a statement.

“Katuwaan lamang po, wala pong malisya, walang personalan (It’s just for fun. There’s no malice in it, nothing personal),” it added.

“The highlight of the event was a boodle fight, and employees were thrilled that Secretary Tugade would join them,” the statement added. “Employees cheered and even nominated other pairs (not seen in the video) to participate in what was a fun and lighthearted moment.”

As of this writing, the video already had 93,000 views, 1,500 shares, and 2,400 reactions. /ee