Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has drawn public scrutiny after images of her wearing luxury brands went viral. The posts, showing her adorned in high-end accessories and traveling in style, have fueled criticism over perceived contradictions in her family’s claims of modest living.
Social media posts highlight Kitty wearing a $7,800 Tiffany & Co. necklace and carrying designer bags from Hermès, Chanel, and Dior worth millions of pesos. Among the items featured in viral posts are a P350,000 Dior bag, a P1.3 million Hermès Kelly 25 bag, a P1.25 million Hermès Kelly 25 bag, a P890,000 Hermès Constance bag, a P400,000 Chanel top-handle bag, a P210,000 Loro Piana bag, and a P120,000 Goyard bag.
Beyond accessories, Kitty’s lavish lifestyle extends to luxury travel. A widely circulated post titled “The Duterte Illusion” points out her business-class flights to Milan, which cost between $7,000 and $10,000, and her shopping spree at Chanel. She has also been seen wearing designer clothing, including a $4,200 Christian Dior skirt, a $6,000 Christian Dior bag, and sunglasses from Fendi ($644) and Celine ($410).
Rodrigo Duterte, known for his strongman persona and populist appeal, often portrayed himself as a leader for the common Filipino. However, his daughter’s extravagant lifestyle raises questions about the authenticity of this image. Critics argue that flaunting wealth undermines his messaging against the elite.
Several critics online said the Duterte family is hypocritical, while supporters argue that Kitty, as a private citizen, has the right to her wealth.
“Tapos, nag-iiyakan ang mga Dutae Fans para dito? Itong mga ito ay may bilyong peso at baka may bilyong dolyar din! Kaya hindi dapat kaawaan. Nakaw sa taong bayan iyan. Uto-uto ang mga umiidolo sa pamilyang ito,” netizen Sarah Danica Comia Burns commented on a Facebook post.
“She has her own business, a source of income, she is an endorser of brands. The simplicity of her father doesn’t dictate how she would want to spoil herself. She has her own earnings and she has the right however she wanted to spend it,” netizen Aime Iglesia also commented in response. (TCSP)
