Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc believes that presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno was only looking after her welfare when he made a rant against elitist sectors who were supposedly pressuring and threatening her.
Gutoc told INQUIRER.net on Saturday that Moreno’s outburst during the IM Pilipinas Batangas Convention on Friday — where the mayor said that Gutoc was threatened and pressured by people who think that they only can govern — was in reference to the social media attacks she received.
The senatorial bet of Aksyon Demokratiko who also ran in 2019 with the Otso Diretso slate has been receiving scathing remarks online after she left the coalition headed by the Liberal Party (LP). In one instance, Gutoc explained that she changed alliances because LP did not do large-scale organizing.
“I believe the mayor was looking after my mental health when he made the remarks, kasi you know, we candidates are human also,” Gutoc said in a phone interview.
“It was about online supporters who were attacking me, pressuring me with the ‘Lipat Samira’ tweets, as if they are the only ones with capability to govern,” she added.
READ: Gutoc on alliance shift: I waited for LP, but it did no large-scale organizing
Controversy surrounded Moreno’s statements on Friday, which was made while he was reminding people from Batangas to be wary of sectors who are trying to pressure voters this coming elections — noting that Gutoc herself was pressured.
“Pagod na pagod na ang binging-bingi na ang tao kakapompyang ng away nila. Kayo lang ba ang tao dito sa mundo? Kayo lang ba ang Pilipino o ang mahalaga ay ang katatayuan at kinabukasan ng 100 milyong Pilipinong naghihintay ng masasandalan n’yang pamahalaan sa oras ng kanyang pangangailangan?” Moreno asked.
(The people are sick and tired of the reversal of roles of those involved in this political rivalries. Are you the only people in the world? Are you the only Filipinos or is the welfare of the 100 million Filipinos waiting for a government to rely on also important?)
“Kaya sa inyo mga Batangueno, mga kababayan nating nanonood, magnilay-nilay kayo, tatakutin kayo nyan, si Samira nga tinakot eh. Alam nyo ba si Samira pine-pressure, para silang may monopolya ng pamamahala. Sila lang ang magaling,” he added.
(That’s why you people of Batangas, fellow Filipinos, try to reflect on things. They will try to intimidate you, even Samira was threatened. Did you know that Samira was being pressured? It seems that they have a monopoly over governance. They think they’re the only good people here.)
Gutoc also clarified that the pressure and threats did not come from the Liberal Party itself or any of its officials like Vice President Leni Robredo.
“No naman, there was nothing coming from LP or the Vice President,” she explained.
On Friday also, Robredo who is also LP’s honorary chair said that they have no reason to intimidate other candidates, adding that she was even supportive of Gutoc’s decision.
Robredo is also making a presidential bid in the 2022 national elections.
During the Batangas event, Moreno again launched his own tirades against elitist individuals and groups. He also urged the poor during this election season to persevere and work harder so that the next generation would be liberated from poverty.
But after the next generation became successful, Moreno said that they were discriminated upon by the elite.
“Pero ‘pag halalan, aba’y iboboladas ‘yong mga nanay, mga tatay, magsikap kayo, galingan ninyo, makakaraos ang anak natin. Aba’y ‘pag nakaraos ang anak dahil sa pagsisikap ng magulang, ang anak nagbuti, no’ng umangat, ‘hindi ka namin katulad, kami lang ang mamamahala, kami lang ang may alam,’” he said.
(During election time, they would trick people, tell mothers and fathers to persevere, do better, and your children will emerge from poverty. But once the children become successful due to their parents’ abilities, they will tell you, ‘you are not one of us, we are the only ones who can govern, we know better.)
Moreno did not explicitly say if he was referring to himself, but he recently questioned why it seems that opinions coming from the poor sectors and the middle class are deemed insults and rude statements, that as if they have no right to speak their mind.
READ: ‘Ugaling elitista’: Moreno slams critics for calling his opinion on Robredo as ‘insult’
In the same speech, Moreno turned emotional over the insults he has been getting — from being called a porn star due to his previous job as an actor and to being belittled due to his origins — implying again that the elite have been insisting on ruling the poor, like puppet masters.
READ: Isko Moreno turns emotional; says he’s ‘hurt’ after being called a porn star