Malacañang and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have distanced themselves from the controversial statement of MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago on the situation of detained activist Reina Mae Nasino.
“Tingin ko po personal na opinyon niya iyan. Hindi naman po kasi related sa MMDA iyang issue na iyan. So hayaan po natin na magkaroon ng personal na opinyon si Spokesperson Pialago (I think it is her personal opinion. The issue is not related to the MMDA. So let her have her own opinion),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“Mayroong negative at positive comments doon sa sinabi niya pero ito po’y personal opinion niya at hindi po MMDA (There were negative and positive comments in her remarks, but it is her personal opinion and not that of the MMDA),” MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia added.
Garcia clarified that the reported 70 managers of Pialago’s Facebook page are not MMDA employees.
“I don’t know kung saan nanggaling ang 70 na ‘yan, pero definitely under po sa office ko si ASec. Pialago, wala po siyang ganyang staff. Ang staff po niya ay isang secretary at EA niya (I don’t know where than 70 came from, but ASec. Pialago is definitely under my office and she does not have that number of staff. Her staff is one secretary and one EA),” Garcia said.
Meanwhile, Pialago has apologized to those who were hurt by her statement, but asserted that she will not delete her post.
“Mali kasi ‘yung tingin ng iba na binabanatan natin yung mga nanay na nagdadalamhati na nawawalan ng anak. Hindi naman talaga drama yon. Wala nang dramang ganoon (It was wrong that some people perceived that we are attacking mothers who are grieving over losing a child. It was really not a drama. There was no such drama),” Pialago reasoned.
“Ang pinupunto ko po roon (What I was pointing out are) those people who are taking advantage of the situation to manipulate other people,” Pialago added. – Report from Mela Lesmoras and Karen Villanda
