Sharon and brother dine with Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Actress and singer Sharon Cuneta, wife of opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan, said she made elder brother Chet happy by dining with President Duterte on Tuesday night. 

Duterte, Cuneta and her brother dined at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang compound. It was Cuneta who asked for an audience with the President for her brother to finally meet Duterte.

Cuneta has long admitted her admiration for Duterte, whom she said was a good friend of her late father, Pasay City mayor Pablo Cuneta.

“My beloved only brother with the exact same DNA as mine, Chet, @chetdc9 finally met his idol and hero tonight. My Daddy was a good friend of the President,” Cuneta wrote in a Facebook post.

“Kuya (my brother) and I always find ways to make each other happy. Tonight, I was not only happy and honored to have dinner with President Duterte, but also to make my Kuya the happiest I’ve ever been able to make him. Hope you’re happy, Daddy! I love you so much, kuya ko (my brother),” she added.

Cuneta thanked the President for taking the time to have dinner with her and her brother.

“And thank you, Mr. President. We pray that God’s hand be upon you so that you may steer our country where He knows it will be best! May God bless you, sir,” she wrote.

Cuneta also said she missed presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, her friend since way back.

The President earlier sent Cuneta a video message greeting her and telling her of the friendship they had. He also cited his daughter Sara’s admiration for Cuneta.

Also present at the dinner was Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go and some of Cuneta’s friends. 

Netizens commented that Pangilinan was not with Cuneta during the dinner with the President.

Cuneta said her husband understood her meeting with the President. She also said that Pangilinan was “so chill and happy” that she and her brother were happy with their dinner with Duterte. 

Cuneta and Pangilinan explained that whatever differences the senator has with the President is political in nature and not personal.

“The President is friends with the father of Sharon and Chet and they were both mayors during the ‘80s and ‘90s so she was invited to dinner. I have no problem with that and my differences with the President is nothing personal,” Pangilinan said.

“Tuloy lang ang trabaho natin at tuloy lang din ang walang personalan (Our work continues and there is nothing personal about it),” the senator added.

Pangilinan also said that he and Duterte have known each other since 1999, and that Duterte even helped him during his senatorial bid in 2001 and 2007.

“Sabi nga ni Tatay Digong kanina eh (Daddy Digong even said that) they respect each other even if they disagree on certain things,” Cuneta said.

“Well, that’s why it’s nice that we live in a free country. Politics? Temporary. My dad was the President’s good friend? Hey – deal closed! Blessed to have a hubby like my dork,” Cuneta said, adding that she was going to sleep after arriving home before sunrise yesterday.

Cuneta did not explain what the “deal” was about. Sources told The STAR that the President, the actress and her brother did not talk about politics during the dinner and there was no deal or anything of the sort. – Marvin Sy