PNoy wants love life kept ‘in the dark’

(Updated 8:50 p.m.) — It’s no state secret but asking Palace spokespersons about the President Benigno Aquino III's love life would leave you stonewalled. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said he, deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte, and Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang do not bother asking Aquino anything about his love life, including his dates. Aquino attended the recent reunion concert of 70’s band Hotdog at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati with a woman who was later identified as Bunny Calica, a 27-year-old early childhood education teacher who also teaches Korean students. But Lacierda said Palace spokespersons did not know at the time the name of Aquino’s date. “Me, Ricky and Abi were in the dark kung sinong pangalan niya. Because alam namin na tatanungin kami, ayaw na naming malaman," Lacierda told Malacañang reporters at a press briefing Thursday. “As a matter of policy, we don’t ask the President on his private life… As far as we’re concerned, we do not comment on the private life of the President," he added. He said Aquino’s dates are not used to the constant media attention and the flashing cameras. “Hangga’t maaari, gusto nila pribado ang situation. Hindi mo maaalis sa kanila na mailang na may mga camera," he said. Desire for privacy Lacierda said on a scale of one to 10, the President’s desire for privacy is already a “10." “He is asking for privacy because all his events are now public. He no longer has privacy," Aquino’s spokesman said. “This is just a very human request on anyone’s part, to have some level of privacy even if he’s a public official. He has really been robbed off of his privacy so he’s asking that there be some measure of privacy." “We understand where media is coming from," he added. “That’s why we’re also telling media why the President would request privacy. He's an ordinary human being also but because he has a very prominent public position, media demands from him that his life be open but as human being, he requests privacy." Topic of love But Palace reporters told Lacierda that Aquino should not complain when the President himself volunteers information about — or brings up the topic of — his love life, such as when mentioned in his speech at the 104th annual convention of the Philippine Medical Association on Wednesday. Told that the President’s own sister, the actress Kris Aquino, sometimes leaks information about his love life to the media, Lacierda commented that he cannot do anything about it. “That is the matter between the President and his sister." Aquino, a 51-year-old bachelor, is known to occasionally mention his love life or the lack of it in his speeches. Just last month, he mentioned in his speech in Iloilo that he is still looking for his “palangga," an Ilonggo word for “loved one" or “lover." Aquino previously dated stockbroker Len Lopez and stylist Liz Uy. It was also reported that he texted a reporter he met in Singapore during his state visit there earlier this year. Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad and Aquino were together for two years before their breakup last year. — KBK/MRT/VS, GMA News