Palace: DSWD using sensitivity to address relationship between Aguilar, minor gf

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is using "sensitivity" to defuse a potential public discomfort over the relationship between singer Freddie Aguilar and a girl 44 years younger than him, Malacañang said Sunday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman had said her agency is trying to protect minors but is handling the case “wit sensitivity.”

“Ang kanilang sinabi, the DSWD is reaching out to counsel the parents and the person concerned, ang minor na sangkot dito. Dagdag niya [Soliman], we are trying to reach out to Mr. Aguilar; we are mandated by law to protect minors," he said on government-run dzRB radio.

Earlier, Aguilar drew controversy following reports about his relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

The 60-year-old Aguilar had said he will marry the minor and does not care about criticisms against his relationship with the girl.

Coloma said Soliman and the DSWD are “approaching this with sensitivity to dialogue.”

“Yan ang sinusundan nila, ang proseso ng dialogue, dahil may sensitivity ang ganitong klaseng usapin (That is what the DSWD will follow, the process of dialogue, because this issue should be addressed with sensitivity),” he said. — LBG, GMA News