Marcos Family In Australia For Short Break; Victory Party In Amanpulo Denied

Presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has flown to Australia for a short vacation with his family, his spokesman confirmed on Tuesday, May 17.

Marcos and his family left on Monday, May 16, and will return tomorrow, May 19, according to lawyer Vic Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said the Marcoses took the vacation after the grueling 90-day campaign.

“It’s more of a private trip for a much needed rest of the incoming president. I think he just wanted to enjoy the remaining few days before he assumes the presidency,” Rodriguez said at a press briefing. “He’s trying to enjoy momentarily his being citizen Bongbong.”

Rodriguez said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called Marcos on the phone to congratulate him for his unprecedented victory.

“The prime minister of Australia also sent his congratulatory message to the Filipino people following the peaceful and democratic conduct of elections,” Rodriguez said.

He said Morrison promised to continue the close ties between Australia and the Philippines.

Rodriguez slammed Filipino militants, particularly members of the progressive group Anakbayan Melbourne, who staged a protest in front of the apartment complex where Marcos was said to be staying.

“It’s embarrassing. It’s not characteristic of Filipinos to humiliate fellow Filipinos abroad,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez also denied rumors that Marcos held a victory party in Amanpulo, a luxury resort in Palawan.

Rodriguez told “Sa Totoo Lang” on One PH on Monday that he too was surprised when the rumors started to circulate on social media.

“Kahit ako nagulat so walang ganun, walang ganung victory celebration,” Rodriguez said, adding that the rumors started from “irresponsible social media users.”

“Ang akin lang na laging sinasabi (As for me, I always) let's be responsible for what we post, let's be responsible for what we do. Hindi tayo yung magpo-post para ka lang makapanakit ng kung sino man, kakatapos lang ng kampanya, kakatapos lang ng eleksyon (We do not post just to hurt someone, the campaign and the elections just concluded),” he noted.

“Kung meron kayong pinanghahawakan for example proof of payment or booking sino nagpa-book or larawan, eh ‘di by all means i-post ninyo at you will get a reply from me but kung ito ay alegasyon lang ng kung sino siguro ang tamang taong tanungin ninyo eh ‘yung taong nag-post niyan (Should you have proof, for example proof of payment or booking or photo, by all means, post it and you will get a reply from me, but if this is just an allegation, then I think the best person to talk to is the one who posted it),” Rodriguez said.

Social media went abuzz over the weekend as rumors started circulating that Marcos booked the whole private island resort and held a victory party there.

“Amanpulo” even became a trending topic on social media site Twitter because of the matter.

Like Rodriguez, Katrina Razon, daughter of business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., also denied the rumors of the victory party. The elder Razon backed the National Unity Party that endorsed Marcos’ presidential bid.

“Claims of a buyout and victory party at Amanpulo are false…,” Katrina said in a now-deleted Twitter post.

“We need to stop misinformation and disinformation from spreading regardless of which political candidate you support,” she added.