Marcos slams 'chill' leaders amid typhoon crises
MANILA, Philippines — The Palace maintained that while the local officials who left the country during the typhoons are still being internally questioned, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disapproved of leaders who are “chill-chill lang (only).”
Several officials are under fire for traveling abroad at the height of tropical cyclones Tino and Uwan, which ravaged the country mere days apart.
One official, Isabel Gov. Rodolfo Albano III, also caught the ire of citizens. Albano, currently in Germany, said that his residents should chill, even with the cyclone closing in on the Philippines.
While she did not name names, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Marcos does not accept this kind of behavior.
“Hindi niya (Marcos) po gusto na ang mga liderato ay chill-chill lang. So, dapat talaga ang trabaho ay para sa taumbayan kasi ang taumbayan umaasa po sa gobyerno lalo na sa mga ganitong klaseng sitwasyon at kondisyon. So, hindi puwedeng sabihin lang na chill-chill lang palagi dahil dapat trabaho, trabaho – hindi bakasyon,” Castro said.
(He does not like leaders who are just chilling around. The job should be for the people because the people rely on the government, especially in these types of situations and conditions. So, we can’t just say just chill because it should be work—not vacation.)
Castro maintained that just because the leaders went abroad, it does not mean that they were vacationing. However, she said that leaders must remain with their communities in the face of calamities.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has named several officials who went out of the country during Tino and Uwan, including Albano and Batanes Gov. Jun Aguto. Several executives from Cebu were also absent from their communities during the cyclones.
No resort?
While the Palace has expressed disapproval of “chill” leaders, it defended First Lady Liza Marcos for her book launch at the Goldenberg Mansion in Malacañang, which took place on November 6, the same time that Typhoon Tino hit the country.
Asked about the criticisms accusing the First Lady of being tone-deaf, the Palace said that each official had their own designated obligation.
- Latest
- Trending
