Palace photo shoot raises spectre of Marcos
Teenage granddaughter of Philippine leader accused of reviving opulence of the former disgraced regime
THE family of Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, has been accused of reviving the opulence of the Marcos era after his teenage granddaughter staged a lavish photo shoot at the presidential palace in the capital, Manila.
In early December Isabelle Duterte, 17, brought celebrity stylists and makeup artists to the country’s seat of power, known as Malacañang, for a photo session to mark her “debut”, a coming-ofage ceremony in the Philippines when a girl celebrates her 18th birthday with a large party.
The pictures, in which she poses in a Disney-like red ball gown, a flowing dress with cream leaves, and floral print outfit, have divided a nation prone to fighting political battles on social media.
While some accused the Dutertes of
‘I wasn’t there but even if I were, my granddaughter having her picture taken is just like other visitors’
echoing the luxuriousness of the family of Ferdinand Marcos, the former president whose wife Imelda was infamous for her vast collection of shoes, others denounced the criticism of a teenage girl who enjoys fashion.
Mr Duterte rallied to Isabelle’s defence during a weekend birthday party for Manny Pacquiao, the former boxer. “She is my relative. It’s a small matter to use Malacañang,” he said, according to news outlet Rappler. “I wasn’t there but even if I were, my granddaughter having her picture taken is just like visitors who go there and take pictures of themselves,” he said. Reports on Instagram suggested Isabelle’s dresses were created by designers including Garimon Roferos Couture, of Dubai.
“Marcos-style decadence back in full force under Duterte,” remarked one Twitter user, referring to the Marcos era of 1965-1986, during which the rich first family was accused of plundering the nation’s wealth.
“Stop making Isabelle Duterte happen. Our generation doesn’t need its own Imee Marcos,” said another, using the name Perry. People appeared to be particularly upset that Isabelle, the daughter of Mr Duterte’s eldest son Paulo, was allowed to pose next to the presidential seal in photos, criticising the contrast between the grandiose shoot and Mr Duterte’s projected image as a simple man of the people. The presidential office said the session did not violate any regulations, while Harry Roque, a presidential spokesman, said that no taxpayers’ money was used for the event.
However, the growing controversy took a sinister turn yesterday when the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said that a radio broadcaster based in Davao, the Duterte family’s home city, had received a series of death threats after criticising the shoot.
Kathyrine Cortez, a journalist with Radyo ni Juan, first received a text message telling her to “slow down on her criticisms” and accusing her of siding with communists, reported GMA news.
The NUJP said this was followed by another message warning her she “might not live long enough to see” the new year, and one saying “one bullet for you. Merry Christmas!”