By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
LGBTQIA+ rights group Bahaghari on Tuesday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte’s “‘Wag kayong bakla (Don’t be gay)” remark while talking to Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, labeling it “derogatory” and distracting from pressing issues regarding her office’s use of confidential funds.
“Napakalinaw [na] derogatory po ang statement…ni VP Sara Duterte. Hindi po insulto ang pagiging bakla. Marangal ang pagiging bakla,” Bahaghari chairperson Reyna Valmores-Salinas said in a Radyo Pilipinas interview.
Duterte made the remark during an incident where Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff Zuleika Lopez collapsed and was being transferred to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMCC) over the weekend.
Valmores-Salinas argued that Duterte’s remarks were not casual but a deliberate attempt to demean.
“Alam ko po marami sa atin, sasabihin ang salitang ‘bakla’ as an endearment pero malinaw na ginamit niya ito out of frustration na kapag ikaw ay duwag, o na kapag ikaw ay sunod-sunuran, ibig sabihin ba noon bakla? Hindi po iyon totoo,” Valmores-Salinas said. “Alam natin[g] matatapang at mahuhusay ang mga bakla.”
Valmores-Salinas said the insult lies not in being part of the LGBTQIA+ community but in the conduct of certain public officials who lack accountability.
“Kung meron man pong nakakainsulto, hindi po iyon ang pagiging miyembro ng LGBT community kundi ang pagiging isang pulitiko, isang elected official na hindi kayang sagutin ang mga simpleng tanong ng mga mamamayan kung nasaan na napunta ang pera,” Valmores-Salinas said.
‘Trapo’ behavior
Valmores-Salinas further described Duterte’s behavior as typical of ‘trapo’, a Filipino term for traditional politicians often associated with corruption or insincerity.
“May tawag po tayo doon sa mga politiko na pagdating sa halalan sasabihin nila kunwari ‘Pinaglalaban ka namin’, ‘Kasama ka sa programa namin’ pero sa gawa iba naman pala ’yong pinapakita, ang tawag po doon ‘trapo’,” Valmores-Salinas said.
Valmores-Salinas noted the contradiction in Duterte’s statement, as she has previously claimed to be part of the LGBTQ+ community and expressed support for it.
“Unfortunately, kahit gaano po natin bali-baliktarin, pagiging trapo, trapo behavior ang pinapakita ni VP Sara lalong-lalo na sa mga miyembro ng LGBT community na pinangakuan niya noong panahon ng eleksiyon,” Valmores-Salinas said.
Valmores-Salinas said Duterte should answer to the public regarding her handling of P300 million in confidential funds, instead of employing “theatrics” that divert the public from the real issue.
“Napakasimple lang po ang bottom line [na] tinatanong ng taong bayan si VP Sara: Saan napunta ang P300 million na confidential funds na pinagkaloob sa kanya ng mamamayan? Hindi po masagot ng maayos,” Valmores-Salinas said.
Filing of charges
Valmores-Salinas further disclosed, as spokesperson of the Makabayan coalition, that they are preparing to file criminal complaints against Duterte.
“Sa kasalukuyan po, we are at the preparatory stage for filing a complaint officially against Vice President Sara Duterte. Hindi na po puwedeng palampasin ito. Harap-harapan na po ang katiwalian at pagnanakaw sa atin. Lampas pa ito sa usapang pagiging sensitive ng mga LGBT. Ito po ay usapan ng pagiging matapat bilang isang government official,” Valmores-Salinas said.
Valmores-Salinas said the coalition supports the filing of charges of graft and corruption and has called for Duterte’s impeachment.
“Naniniwala po kami na kaya naman nangyayari ang katiwalian na ito dahil siya ay nasa poder, siya ay nasa authority,” Valmores-Salinas said.
“Kaya nararapat lang na magkaroon na talaga ng panawagan para sa impeachment ni Vice President Sara Duterte,” Valmores-Salinas added.
Let legal action run its course
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives, meanwhile, reiterated that the congressional inquiry into the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds will continue unabated, while legal actions against Duterte for her threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials are running its course.
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon underscored the importance of addressing both the legal and congressional investigations.
“This will undergo a regular process,” he said.
As investigations from the executive and legislative branches continue, Bongalon reiterated the House’s commitment to holding public officials accountable.
“Ang mahalaga po dito ay ang pagsunod sa batas at pagtiyak na ang pera ng bayan ay ginagamit ng tama,” Bongalon said.