Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic ” Remulla. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Instead of engaging in “cheap talk” and senseless arguments, government officials should strive to show leadership amid the problems posed by the coronavirus pandemic, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said Thursday.
In a Facebook post, the outspoken Remulla claimed that government leaders were not elected to “drown in the illusion of power,” but rather to uphold the rights on the people who elected them.
“The people are desperate for LEADERSHIP. The people are demoralized and in need of a SOLUTION. The people are disheartened and in need of a VISION that includes a plan for RECOVERY and ACTION. There is no time to waste,” he said in his post.
“Tandaan po natin na kaya tayo naka-posisyon ngayon ay para itaguyod ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan na siyang nagluklok sa atin bilang mga kinauukulan. Hindi po tayo hinalal ng tao para malunod sa ilusyon ng kapangyarihan… Walang forever, ‘ika nga. Wag po nating abusuhin at ubusin ang pasensya ng tao sa ka-cheapan at mga argumentong walang magandang patutunguhan,” he added.
(Let us remember that we are in government positions to uphold the rights of the people who elected us. We were not elected to drown in the illusion of power… Nothing lasts forever, as they say. Let us not abuse the patience of the people on cheap talk and arguments that won’t lead to anything.)
Remulla made this remark as he also advised government officials to refrain from mocking each other in the middle of the pandemic.
He noted that all families in the country are experiencing hardships due to COVID-19, and that “kindness and empathy will go a long way to ease each other’s pain and suffering.”
“Kung maaari po sana ay iwasan muna natin ang pambabatikos sa isa’t-isa. Isipin po muna natin ang sitwasyon at kapakanan ng kapwa, komunidad at ng buong sambayanan,” he said.
(If possible, let us avoid criticizing each other. Let us think first of the situation of other people, communities, and the entire nation.)
“Kailan pa nagbigay linaw ang panglalait at pang-iinsulto para lamang makaiwas sa mga isyung kailangan ng kasagutan? Una may tinawag na parang callboy daw ang imahe. Kasunod nito ang pagpuna sa isang mambabatas na kailangan daw magpapayat. At may patutsadahang pang ‘hairdo’ vs. ‘matandang paurong,’” he added.
(When did mockery shed light on issues just so we can avoid issues that need answers? First, there was someone who was described as a callboy. Later on, a lawmaker was advised to lose weight. There were also arguments on someone’s hairdo and on aging the other way.)
While Remulla did not mention names, it can be recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte earlier dished tirades against Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s sexy photos as an actor, Senator Richard Gordon’s girth, and Senator Panfilo Lacson’s hairdo.
“Parang ang daming oras sa mga walang kwentang bagay. Wag po sana nating kalimutan na pera ng bayan ang pinangsusweldo sa ating mga serbisyo publiko,” the Cavite governor noted.
(It seems we have a lot of time for nonsense things. Let us not forget that public servants receive their incomes from the public’s money.)