Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia has called out her toxic critics on social media who have been attacking her for any perceived misstep in her dealings with national government officials and even in her private life.
The Governor, during a media briefing on September 20, asked why would these vloggers make her personal issue with a certain financing institution an opportunity to bring her down and then call on Vice President Sara Duterte to join the fray.
“I don’t know if these vloggers are doing our Vice President service by quarreling with everybody,” Gov. Gwen told the media.
“Nganong iapil-apil man intawn ninyo ang Bise Presidente? Why do you have to make this an issue to attack me and then bring in the Vice President? You’re not doing the Vice President any service at all. Inyo na hinuong gidaot-daot. Many are turned off by the vile, the venom,” the Governor added.
Gov. Gwen was reacting to the line of thinking of her critics who linked to “bad karma” (“gaba” in Cebuano) her current legal controversy with HSBC, just because the Governor has “apparently” turned her back on the Vice President and her family.
“Any semblance that if we showed proper respect to the First Lady [Liza Marcos], wala na, awayon na ta. What did I ever do wrong? Did I ever say anything against the Vice President? Of course not. I can never forget nga iya kong gi-endorse atong 2019. I will never forget that,” Gov. Gwen said.
The Governor said she does not wish to be caught in the political crossfire at the national level, especially that national elections are still nowhere near in sight, adding that the only time she would speak out, even if it would displease the administration, is when the interest of Cebu would be compromised.
An example she gave was when she became the lone voice of opposition to the one-size-fits-all policy of the IATF at the height of Covid. But other than that, she said, she does not have any quarrel with anybody — least of all, the Vice President.
“I will always give due and proper respect to the position. If you would notice, during the campaign, mangari diri ang uban nga mga senador gusto magpa-reelect, even if they belong to another party. Why? Kay senador man na,” she said. “In the same way, usa man ni atong Presidente; tagaan nato siya sa respeto kay akong nahibaw-an kining uban nga kusog kaayo mangatake, nibotar baya pod mo og apil.”
“And I will always give due respect to the First Lady kay First Lady man na. It’s the same way I will always give due respect to the Vice President kay Vice President man na. So ayaw mo dretso og pangaway kay you are not doing the Vice President any good,” Gov. Gwen continued. | IPA