Lito Sy on Isabelle Duterte shoot: I did it for free

Images taken from Lito Sy’s Instagram account

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The photographer behind the controversial pictures of Isabelle Duterte defended the presidential granddaughter’s family, saying the shoot was done for free.

In his Facebook post on Monday, December 18, Davao City-based photographer Lito Sy said he did not charge P250,000 for the pre-debut photoshoot inside Malacañan, contrary to rumors spreading on social media.

There was no fee for the service, according to Sy, as Isabelle’s mother, Lovelie Sangkola Sumera “is a very good friend of mine in Davao during (the) early 90s.”

Sumera is the erstwhile spouse of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

What’s more, the red gown used by Isabelle was also sponsored by a Duba-based friend of Sangkola, he said.

“The other gowns were provided by the stylist Jeff Galang which are also borrowed from famous designers in exchange for credits and milage,” he said.

Sy also said that the expenses of Isabelle, who is already an actress under Viva, only included some P25,000 for Galang and an undisclosed amount for make-up artist Winn Ramos.

The expenses were paid by the mother of Isabelle and not by the vice mayor, he explained.

His post has garnered more than 2,000 reactions and has been shared at least 1,000 times as of press time.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was mum on the issue upon being asked by reporters on Monday, December 18, for comment.

“I don’t have a reaction about it since it’s not a Davao issue and it did not happen in Davao,” she said.

The young Duterte’s photo shoot inside the Palace earned criticisms as some pointd out she was violating a law regarding the use of the country’s coat-of-arms.

Critics cited Executive Order No. 310 series of 2004 which states that “the Coat-of-Arms, Seal and Flag of the President of the Philippines or of the Vice President of the Philippines shall be exclusively used to represent the President of the Philippines or the Vice President of the Philippines, respectively.”

The President meanwhile, said the case is just a “small matter.” (davaotoday.com)