Manila: Senior officials have come to President Benigno Aquino's defence following revelations by a TV host that she was happy the president laughed at her jokes during a Christmas party with his elite guards at the presidential palace on Sunday. This was just after almost 700 people died in a strong storm in the southern and central Philippines.
"It was the party of the soldiers of the Presidential Security Group [PSG]. I think we should allow the president some leeway to attend that event," Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said.
Coloma said Aquino stayed at the party for two hours. But PSG head Colonel Ramon Dizon said, "The president stayed for a little over 30 minutes. But he did not go on stage, he did not sing, he did not dance. There was no partying."
"The president stayed only for a few minutes to greet the wives and children of the presidential guards' ... in deference to the Mindanao flood [victims], he did not sing. He just sat for a few minutes," said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
Lambasted
Stories about the party came from TV host Valerie Concepcion who said on her Twitter account that Aquino laughed hard at her jokes. She said she was hired to perform for the PSG party.
Concepcion's account was deluged with criticism, and Aquino was also lambasted for his presence at the party.
Tropical storm Washi has killed almost 700 people in the south, due to landslides, silted rivers, and flash floods.
