Sports reporter Dyan Castillejo received criticisms when he referred to President Rodrigo Duterte as “your president” during his interview with ‘People’s Champ’ turned senator Manny Pacquiao in Malaysia.
On July 15, Castillejo interviewed the Filipino boxer wherein she asked him for a message addressed to his fans and President Duterte, who she referred to as “your president”.
“What a great performance, Manny. I am sure you want to address your fans all over the world and your president sitting way up there,” Castillejo said referring to President Duterte who watched the fight live in Malaysia.
“Mga Pilipino, maraming maraming salamat. Lalo na sa ating mahal na pangulo. Filipino people, maraming salamat. We have a good president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Thank you, Mr. President, for being our president,” Pacquiao responded.
On Instagram, Castillejo posted a video of Pacquiao praying on the night before his fight and on the comments section of the said post, netizens commented criticisms towards Castillejo for using the wrong pronoun.
Even veteran broadcaster Jay Sonza and OWWA Deputy Executive Director V Arnell Ignacio expressed their dismay towards Castillejo.
“Dyan Castillejo, are you even Filipino? Who is the president of your country? Sumagot ka, [explicit],” Sonza wrote on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Ignacio said, “Sa mga ganyang pambabastos, makikita mo, mabait pa rin talaga si PRRD e. Sa nakaraan, pinatrabaho na ‘yan.”
As of this writing, the sports reporter has not yet released any statement or explanation regarding the issue.
