Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Annoyed by a city mayor鈥檚 鈥渄isorganized mind,鈥� President Rodrigo Duterte has not only mocked the official for old photos of him in a 鈥渂ikini鈥� but also barred him from distributing government 鈥渁yuda鈥� (cash aid) to his constituents.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque refused to identify the city or confirm the widely held view that Manila Mayor Francisco 鈥淚sko Moreno鈥� Domagoso was the object of Duterte鈥檚 tirade in his regular public address on Monday.
Domagoso is the only mayor in Metro Manila who was once an actor and who starred in movies showing him scantily clad.
鈥淗e has a reason for not saying the name, but I do not know why he did not. So I will have to leave it at that. I am only a spokesperson. If the principal did not want to reveal who the mayor is and which LGU (local government unit) it is, so be it, let鈥檚 leave it at that,鈥� Roque said in his Tuesday press briefing.
On Monday, the president said the Department of the Interior and Local Government ( DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), and Department of Social Welfare and Development DSWD) would take charge of handing out the cash aid to qualified residents.
The distribution of the money, which is intended to aid low-income families during the Aug. 6 to 20 lockdown of Metro Manila, is to begin today, as agreed upon by the mayors in the region.
Disorderly, disorganized
鈥淭here is a city there that I would not give the power to distribute the cash aid simply because in so many instances, they cannot organize,鈥� Duterte said.
He said this city鈥檚 distribution activities had only resulted in 鈥渄isorder,鈥� unlike in other Metro Manila areas.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just one city here. The people are waiting for directions on what to do, but I think it is the mayor who has a disorganized mind,鈥� he added.
In apparent response, Domagoso posted a photo of him receiving a citation from Interior Secretary Eduardo A帽o recognizing the City of Manila for its 鈥渆fficient and timely鈥� distribution of cash aid during the March-April surge of COVID-19 infections.
To questions on his reaction to Duterte鈥檚 remarks and which agency would take charge of the cash distribution, the mayor responded only with a smiley emoji on the reporters鈥� Viber chat group.
But as far as Manila Social Welfare head Asunci贸n Fugoso was concerned, the city government would lead the cash distribution as had been planned.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been ready since yesterday,鈥� Fugoso said in a radio interview Tuesday morning.
She said the national government sent P1.4 billion last week to the city government, down from the previous allocation of P1.5 billion to Manila. 鈥淏ut we already raised this to the DILG,鈥� she said.
鈥楥all boy鈥�
Domagoso is rumored to be planning to seek higher public office. Last June, the Palace named him among those Mr. Duterte was thinking of endorsing in next year鈥檚 polls.
On Monday, the president said the unnamed mayor had been blaming other people for the supposed disorder and called on the public not to be fooled.
He also said he saw on Facebook photos of the mayor in skimpy clothing and wondered if this was what the people would want to vote for.
鈥淭he jerk was in a bikini and in one of the pictures, he was taking a peek at his private parts. Is this what you want? His training was like that of a call boy,鈥� Duterte said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the training to be president, taking off clothes and posing for photos and letting others have a look, flaunting their private parts, like Paredes.鈥�
It was a reference to the musician Jim Paredes, a member of the opposition who was caught in an earlier sex video scandal.
Asked about Duterte鈥檚 ascendancy in calling out the mayor regarding the sexually charged photos when the President himself had said he abused the family maid when he was young, Roque said 鈥渢he President never posed for pictures like those.鈥�
鈥楴ational funds, anyway鈥�
Roque also said the public was bound to know which city the president was referring to because he had directed certain agencies and the police and military to handle the cash aid.
He said it was expected to proceed and could be done properly even without the mayor鈥檚 participation.
He justified Duterte鈥檚 decision not to authorize the city to handle the cash aid by saying 鈥渢hat鈥檚 national funds, anyway鈥� and the president wanted to ensure proper distribution.
He also said the Palace would leave it to the DILG to decide if sanctions would be imposed on the mayor for his city鈥檚 supposed disorderly operations.
Manila鈥檚 Fugoso said her office had not received word from the national government on the matter.
鈥淏ut in case the DSWD takes over [the distribution], that鈥檚 fine with us. We just don鈥檛 want this delayed because it鈥檚 the people who will suffer,鈥� she said.
Fugoso said they planned to carry out the Wednesday distribution again in barangay halls in six Manila districts and in the Baseco compound. She issued the assurance that health protocols would be observed.
DILG waiting
Meanwhile, the DILG is awaiting official instructions from the Palace.
DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the agency would defer to Roque鈥檚 announcement.
鈥淭he president did not identify the LGU, so we can鈥檛 act unless there is a specific and clear instruction,鈥� Malaya said.
Former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo criticized Duterte for 鈥減oliticizing鈥� the distribution of financial aid.
鈥淚nstead of politicizing 鈥榓yuda鈥� distribution, President Duterte should ensure the speedy distribution of the cash assistance and allocate additional assistance as a minimum of P1000 and a maximum of P4000 are not enough to meet the needs of the majority of our people under lockdown,鈥� Taguiwalo said in a statement.