Palace says Duterte foreign trips fruitful

Malacañang yesterday described President Duterte’s foreign trips as fruitful as he was able to bring home $37 billion worth of investments from 18 countries.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Filipinos should be more appreciative of what the government has achieved, following an online report that said Duterte’s foreign trips during the past 365 days cost thrice more than his predecessors.

Abella said the amount of work Duterte has done in the past 12 months is equivalent to three years.

“It actually feels like three years already considering the amount of work that has been done, considering all the matters that have been addressed. But I wish people would be more united, appreciating, and not act as if they were not Filipinos,” Abella said.

“I think we need to begin to appreciate what has been brought in. We need to think a little bit more entrepreneurially,” Abella said.

Abella said that the 72-year-old President is already working despite not even fully rejuvenated. Duterte stayed away from the public eye for five days to rest and to go on a secret trip as a private citizen in an undisclosed place in Mindanao.

“May kanya-kanya po tayong work mode. Hindi pa talaga tapos ang kanyang pahinga pero on the other hand, nakita natin na tuloytuloy siyang gumawa,” Abella said.