Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has defended Kapuso TV host Willie Revillame, saying he didn’t “hijack” the Palace press briefing held last Friday.
Roque made the clarification in reaction to a report by news site Rappler, titled “Willie Revillame hijacks Roque press briefing to promote charity, GMA 7 show,” following the host’s “sudden” appearance towards the end of the virtual presser.
The Wowowin TV host had then announced a cash donation of P5 million to jeepney drivers displaced by the pandemic, as well as P100,000 each to the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who perished in the Beirut blast.
According to Roque, they ended the press briefing first before giving Revillame — or Kuya Wil to his viewers — the chance to speak.
“Walang po ganung nangyari, ano. Pinatapos natin ang press briefing bago natin pinasalamatan at binigyan ng pagkakataon si Kuya Wil na magsalita,” he said.
“Sa amin naman po, nakisuyo tayo kay Kuya Wil kung puwedeng magamit ang kanyang studio dahil naka-lockdown ang NEB (New Executive Building) kung nasaan ang aming briefing room na pinabigyan naman po.”
He added, “Bilang pasasalamat lang po ang ginawa natin, na niyaya natin siya na magpakita sa huling parte ng briefing. Likas na matulungin naman po si Willie. Walang pinagkaiba ang pagtulong nya sa panahon ng pandemya at noong panahon ng Yolanda. Walang politika doon at walang hijacking.”
Roque had previously explained that he had been holding his press briefings at Revillame’s WilTower property in Quezon City for the past two weeks, after his office at the New Executive Building was closed off due to COVID-19 cases.
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