- On May 28, President Rodrigo Duterte along with local officials and their staff left for Japan to attend the 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo
- Rodjun Cruz and Dianne Medina were among the stars who flew to Japan with Duterte
- The couple denied the allegations of netizens that their Japan trip was paid with taxpayer’s money
President Rodrigo Duterte left for Japan, Tuesday afternoon (May 28), to attend the 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo.
Engaged celebrity couple Rodjun Cruz and Dianne Medina were spotted with the presidential entourage and were among the celebrities who entertained the Filipino community during Duterte’s Japan visit. Their presence set netizens abuzz with suspicions that the couple’s Japan trip was funded by taxpayers’ money.
On Instagram, Rodjun Cruz posted his photo with Dianne Medina at the famous Hachiko Memorial Statue in Tokyo. A netizen commented on the couple’s photo speculating that the trip was a gift from the president.
“May post sa fb group nyo sa Japan kasama sila Bayani (Agbayani), Philip Salvador, etc at dalawa kayo ni Rodjun, sabi regalo daw sa inyo ni PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte),” the netizen commented.
Medina replied and denied the allegation, saying they paid for the trip themselves.
“Not true. Di ka pa nasanay sa mga naninira. You cannot please everybody. May kanya kanya yang opinion or side na pinapanigan. Kahit sabihin mo ang totoo pero di ka nila side, balewala,” the PTV-4 news anchor said.
“Kayo na ang bahala basta ako nasabi na namin ni Rodjun ang totoo. Regalo? San galing yun? We booked our own ticket here,” she added.
Another netizen asked if they were part of Duterte’s delegation: “Just wondering kasi nakita ko picture ninyo sa airport, kasama ba kayo sa grupo ng mga taga gobyerno na nagpunta diyan or natiyempuhan lang na nakita ninyo sila sa airport?”
This time, Cruz responded and explained that the allegations were not true.
“Hi Guys may freedom naman ako to post dahil kami nag bayad ng trip na to.Mali lang jinu-judge kami ng mga tao. Madaming bansa na kaming napuntahan ni Dianne bukod sa Japan. Ilang beses na rin kami bumalik dito. Salamat. God Bless,” Cruz explained.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the celebrities invited to attend the trip flew in using their own funds.
Philippine Ambassador Jose Laurel described that the President’s Japan trip with 200 people including local officials and their staff was a ‘pabuya’ to 20 Cabinet officials for the success of
the 2019 elections.
But Laurel later clarified that Nikkei, the organizer of the forum in Japan, paid for Duterte’s trip and it was not a junket.
