MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Thursday urged Filipinos to respect President Benigno Aquino III's decision not to attend the wake of slain Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude.
"Kung maaari sana ay igalang natin ang kanyang saloobin," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said at a televised press briefing.
Coloma claimed that based on the data gathered by the Palace new media unit, only three percent of Filipinos were not in favor of Aquino's statement during the Foreign Correspondence Association of the Philippines presidential forum on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Aquino explained he has no plan to visit the Laude's wake.
"In general, I don't attend wakes of people I don't know. I find it—and I'm speaking for myself—I'm uncomfortable in trying to condole with people who don't know me," Aquino said.
"How can I say that I really sympathize with your loss and have some relevant discussion with them on trying to assuage their loss at that point in time," he added.
Aquino recalled that recently, he went to the wake of a governor's mother. He said the official is his close friend and the mother had entertained him in their house.
"As a general rule, I attend wakes wherein there is some connection so that, I don’t want to be a burden, but rather I want to help them at their time of need," he said.
Laude was allegedly killed by American soldier Joseph Scott Pemberton in a motel in Olongapo last week.
The victim's family has criticized the national government for the supposedly slow action on the case.