The Malacanang Palace released an official statement announcing that the camp of Bill Gates withdrew his supposed meeting with the Philippine President during the visit of the world’s wealthiest man to the Philippines particularly in the province of Laguna and Palawan right after the Holy Week 2015.
According to Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in a press briefing on Friday, she dispelled rumors that the Palace did not grant Bill Gates a chance to pay a courtesy call to Pres. Aquino.
Abigail Valte revealed the the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation actually had a request for a courtesy call to the President, but it was withdrawn. She was quoted as saying “I can tell you that the foundation sent a request for a courtesy call sometime in November 2014 but it was withdrawn. So it’s not that hindi siya pinansin or anything,” Valte said.
The Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reportedly arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on April 4 and boarded a private plane headed for Amanpulo in Palawan. The world’s wealthiest man also visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Banos, Laguna on Wednesday morning.
Although the visit was not confirmed by both the Microsoft Philippines and the IRRI officials but most people who witness the billionaire family’s visit to the country was aired on various social media sites while the Palace is still trying to verify reports of Gates’ visit.
The Palace also added that the visit of Bill Gates to the Philippines will help improve tourism in the country as he is a well-known personality not only by the technology sector but because of his humanitarian works worldwide.
