Palace, MMDA distance themselves from Pialago remarks on Nasino’s plight

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday distanced themselves from the controversial remarks of MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago on the plight of detained activist Reina Mae Nasino.

Pialago drew fierce criticisms over the weekend due to a Facebook post where she said that sympathizers of Nasino are turning the issue into a “drama series,” especially with how authorities treated the wake and burial of the political prisoner’s three-month-old daughter, Baby River.

“Hindi lahat ng inang nakakulong ay nakapunta sa libing ng kanyang anak. Kaya yung mga sumisimpatya kay Reina Mae Nasino, pag aralan niyo mabuti ang dahilan bakit siya nakulong at kilalanin niyong mabuti kung sino siya sa lipunan,” Pialago said in her post.

(Not all women who are in jail get to attend their child’s burial. Those who are sympathizing with Reina Mae Nasino should get to know her and who she is in society.)

However, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said the comment is Pialago’s own opinion and does not reflect that of the agency’s.

“Tingin ko po personal na opinyon niya iyan. Hindi naman po iyan related sa MMDA iyang issue na iyan. Hayaan po natin na magkaroon ng personal na opinyon si spokesperson Pialago,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.

(I think that is her personal opinion. It wasn’t related to the MMDA. Let her have her own personal opinion.)

In the same press briefing, Garcia echoed the Palace official’s remark, saying: “Ito po’y personal na opinyon niya at hindi ng MMDA.”

(This is her personal opinion and not the MMDA’s.)

Reina Mae, an urban poor organizer who is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, was only given six hours to attend the wake and burial of Baby River, her firstborn who died of pneumonia last October 9.

The baby’s heavily guarded burial was marred by tension after police officers allegedly “hijacked” the funeral rites.

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JE