Paolo Santos ‘not participating’ in concert for Duterte

Paolo Santos (Image: Facebook/Paolo Santos

Acoustic singer Paolo Santos has clarified that he is not part of a concert organized for President Rodrigo Duterte.

The “Moonlight over Paris” crooner announced on Tuesday, Aug. 25, via Facebook that he is not involved in the online tribute concert to be held on Aug. 30.

“It has come to my attention that an announcement is going around saying I am one of the participants in a concert scheduled for [Aug.] 30 called ‘Songs for Duterte.’ I’d like to make it clear here that I am not participating in it and have nothing to do with it,” Santos said. “I thank those who called my attention to it and showed concern.”

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It appears the singer was referring to the concert “Singing for the President” organized by Jimmy Bondoc and which includes musician Freddie Aguilar, chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Mocha Uson and lawyer Larry Gadon.

The concert is dubbed to be “just like the good old days.” It seems to hark back to when musicians banded together to support Duterte in his presidential campaign.

In 2015, Bondoc wrote the song “Takbo” (Run) to encourage Duterte to run for president. Santos was among the artists who took part in the song and music video.

Following Duterte’s win, musicians who supported his campaign earned government posts. Bondoc is currently vice president for corporate social responsibility of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), while Santos was appointed to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.  /ra

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