Bongbong Marcos Faces Backlash Over Duran Duran Party
MARCOS – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is facing backlash after the famous band ‘Duran Duran’ performed at his birthday party.
The birthday celebration for President Marcos last Friday, which included a performance by British pop rock band Duran Duran, has sparked controversy after an alleged invitation to the event, featuring the presidential seal as a letterhead, surfaced online.
Held on Marcos’ 67th birthday, the party gained attention on social media when vlogger Sass Rogando Sasot claimed that the private concert was funded by taxpayer money, urging Filipinos to go to the Marriott Hotel in Pasay to watch the show.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) later confirmed that friends of Marcos organized the event at a Pasay hotel, with the President being surprised by the Duran Duran performance. The PCO also asserted that the event incurred no expense for the government.
Despite the PCO’s clarification, criticism of the celebration continued, especially after social media posts showed a purported invitation sent to politicians and business executives.
The invitation reportedly featured the Office of the President’s logo. Other posts included alleged instructions for guests, such as a request to avoid taking photos and videos to maintain a “cozy and private” atmosphere.
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According to the report, guests were also asked to leave their phones in their cars or check them in at the reception, with the promise that a videographer would document the event and a “secure roaming photo booth” would be available for keepsake photos.
Critics labeled the party as insensitive to the struggles of Filipinos, with some arguing that it violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts, favors, or entertainment in connection with their duties.
His Excellency deserve to be treated to the party which was hosted by his private friends. It should not be a cause of unfair and unverified criticism by basher who pride themselves as guardian of public funds. My question is do these basher themselves have done their part in observing the ethics of their so called moral obligations to our nations’ sovereignty… they are clothing themselves with the so called “freedom of the press”…. A much abused privilege.