Gov. Luigi Villafuerte Addresses ‘Vacationing’ in Siargao During Typhoon Kristine
LUIGI VILLAFUERTE – The governor of Camarines Sur has broken his silence after facing backlash for allegedly vacationing in Siargao while Typhoon Kristine wreaks havoc in his home province.
The Villafuerte family is facing online backlash due to claims that they were absent during the devastation caused by Typhoon Kristine. This scrutiny arose after photos emerged of Governor Luigi Villafuerte, his girlfriend Yassi, Congressman LRay Villafuerte, and several Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials supposedly vacationing in Siargao during the disaster.
Netizens criticized the Villafuertes for choosing to vacation at such a critical moment, with some accusing them of neglecting their duties while constituents struggled with the storm’s aftermath. Reports suggested that the officials were stranded in Siargao because of poor weather, preventing their return to Camarines Sur.
In response, Congressman LRay Villafuerte labeled the accusations as “fake news.” He clarified that the photos were taken on Saturday and that all SK officials had returned to Camarines Sur by Monday, prior to the storm’s impact. He highlighted that he and his family had been actively involved in relief and rescue operations, personally donating rubber boats and coordinating with national agencies, international organizations, and senators to secure further assistance for the province.
Meanwhile, Luigi Villafuerte, the governor of CamSur and boyfriend of Yassi Pressman, has addressed rumors regarding his family’s recent trip to Siargao, clarifying that they returned on October 21 after a tourism benchmarking event and were not stuck there, as claimed.
He emphasized that since their return, they have been actively involved in evacuation, rescue missions, and relief operations in areas affected by heavy flooding. Villafuerte urged everyone to prioritize relief and recovery efforts for CamSur, the Bicol region, and other areas impacted by Typhoon Kristine. He also provided his boarding pass as proof to dispel the rumors.