Palace to Kris Aquino: ‘Welcome on board’

Malacañang only has good words for actress Kris Aquino after she revealed how kind President Rodrigo Duterte was to her even if she supported then-Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II in the 2016 elections.

"Welcome on board Kris Aquino," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a press briefing on Monday when asked to comment on Aquino's social media post on Sunday, which has gone viral. 

Kris took to social media to express her disappointment over a television feature story on her ex-husband James Yap which was aired on the show of Roxas' wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez.

In her lengthy post, Kris said it was clear to her why Duterte clinched the presidency.

She also said Duterte was good to her during her three visits to the President's hometown of Davao City, two of which happened in the 2010 and 2013 national elections.

Kris' post was accompanied by a photo of her and Duterte, who won the May 2016 election with 16.6 million votes, a margin of over six million votes over Roxas, his closest rival.

Kris, however, has since apologized to her brother, former President Benigno Aquino III and Roxas.

"I know I've unleashed a double edged sword," she began. "I will collect my thoughts and try my best to forgive regardless of the fact no remorse has ever been shown. I apologize for including politics, but that is the unfortunate baggage and responsibility of my last name."

Duterte supported Cory

In Malacañang, Roque said: "Ang nabasa ko sa statement niya...walang masamang ipinakita si Presidente Duterte sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya noong nangangampanya siya para sa kanyang kapatid sa Davao."  

"At alam mo yun din ang sinabi sa akin ng Presidente. Si Presidente noong [19]86 Revolution nagsuporta kay Cory at lahat ng kampanya ng pamilyang Aquino suportado ni Presidente Duterte sa Davao and the mother of course of the President," he added.

Duterte worked with the prosecutor's office in Davao from 1977 until his appointment as OIC-Mayor of Davao City under the revolutionary government of President Corazon Aquino in 1986.

He said his late mother, Soledad, was among those who marched down the streets calling on then-President Ferdinand Marcos to step down.

Duterte, however, has been criticized for his closeness with the Marcos family, the political rival of the Aquinos, even allowing the late dictator to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016. — RSJ, GMA News