Vendor Gemma Parina. Screengrab of the viral video. INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — A balut vendor, who went viral after her expletive-laden rant against the “no vaccination, no ride” policy, said that she used to be a fan of President Rodrigo Duterte, but the government rules that made her life harder led her to change her mind.
Gemma Parina made the statement during a Radyo Inquirer interview on Friday, following a video showing her slamming the “no vaccine, no ride” policy made rounds on social media on Thursday. As of posting, the video posted at INQUIRER.net garnered 11 million views and 292,000 reactions.
“Alam niyo pangulo, kayo ang idolo ko, kayo ang binoto ko. Tapos noong pumunta kayo sa Luneta, nagkandarapa ako para lang mapuntahan kayo, nagsuot pa ako ng t-shirt na Duterte. Kaya lang po pangulo, noong pinatupad niyo ‘yung no-vaccine no ride… sumama po talaga ang loob ko kasi ‘yung taong iniidolo ko, yun pa ang nagpapahirap sa akin,” Parina said tearfully over Radyo Inquirer.
“Idolong-idolo ko po kayo, kaya lang Pangulo, nawalan ako nung [interes] nung pinatupad mo yung no vaccine, no ride,” Parina said in another video posted on her Facebook on Friday.
(You know, President, I am a fan of yours, I voted for you. When you went to Luneta, I was very enthusiastic to see you, I even wore a Duterte shirt. But, president, ever since you imposed the no vaccine, no ride [policy], I felt really bad because the person that I idolize is now making me suffer. I am a big fan of yours, Mr. President. But I am not interested with you anymore since you enforce the no vax no ride.)
Parina, who said she chooses not to be vaccinated because of her illness, was not allowed to use public transportation and even denied entry in Paco Market on Thursday, which prompted her outburst.
Parina has since apologized for her remarks.
The vendor said she now left her residence, claiming the police and barangay chairman is on the lookout to file charges against her.
“Wala naman akong ginawang masama, sinabi ko lang ang saloobin ko,” she said, still in tears.
(I did nothing wrong, I just expressed what I really feel.)
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