Team DailyPedia
MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago made a controversial statement last October 18 when she slammed netizens for making a ‘drama serye’ about the situation of Reina Mae Nasino.
Nasino was an urban poor organizer who is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. She was given six hours to attend the wake and burial of her three-month-old son River, who died of pneumonia last October 9.
In her post, Pialago attacked those who support Nasino.
“Happy Sunday everyone! Walang kinalaman sa traffic pero sa tingin ko kailangan kong gamitin ang boses ko bilang isang Pilipino sa usapin na ito. Hindi lahat ng inang nakakulong ay nakapunta sa libing ng kanyang anak. Kaya yung mga sumisimpatya kay Reina Mae Nasino, pag aralan niyo mabuti ang dahilan bakit siya nakulong at kilalanin ninyong mabuti kung sino siya sa lipunan. Masyado nyong ginagawang pang drama serye sa hapon ang paghihinagpis nya. Tigilan niyo!”
Because of this now-deleted post, some celebrities aired their disgust.
Ogie Diaz, a talent manager, took a swing at the said MMDA Spokesperson. “Ate, makidalamhati ka man lang bilang ikaw ay babae rin at magiging ina ka rin,” he advised. “Wag puro ganda lang. Maganda din sana kalooban mo sa kapwa mo babae.”
Ate, makidalamhati ka man lang bilang ikaw ay babae rin at magiging ina ka rin. Wag puro ganda lang. Maganda din sana kalooban mo sa kapwa mo babae. https://t.co/0bjfDpzHoN
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) October 18, 2020
Twenty police officers were deployed to the burial, while a SWAT team and a firetruck were on standby. Also, the jail escorts refused to remove Nasino’s handcuffs.
Because of this, Diaz pointed out that the ones who created the “drama” were actually the police.
“Ate, itanong mo sa mga pulis kumbakit kailangang isang batalyon sila laban sa isang inang nagdadalamhati. Bakit andami nila eh nakaposas naman yung nanay? So sino dapat mong sisihin kumbakit drama serye na ang dating?” the talent manager said. “Saka ka pumasok sa eksena kung nag-cause yan ng trapik.”
https://twitter.com/ogiediaz/status/1317743253358145536
Enchong Dee, another celebrity, took his disappointment to social media and called Pialogo “heartless and unintelligent”.
“This person is Heartless and Unintelligent. Ilagay mo ang sarili mo sa kalagayan ng isang ina at mangyari to sayo. Bilang isang tao… ok lang talaga sayo??”
This person is Heartless and Unintelligent. Ilagay mo ang sarili mo sa kalagayan ng isang ina at mangyari to sayo.
Bilang isang tao… ok lang talaga sayo?? pic.twitter.com/KPLGPk4HuB
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) October 18, 2020
On Twitter, some users shared their thoughts on the statement and even compared politicians who were accused of crimes.
One twitter user @eggywardj posted this: “Dear MMDA Spox and Asec Celine Pialago, Did Baby River die? Yes. As a matter of fact, it was an inhumane death, one that could have been prevented. If you are, as you say, a Filipino, then how do we explain the furlough given to politicians charged with horrendous crimes?”
Dear MMDA Spox and Asec Celine Pialago,
Did Baby River die? Yes. As a matter of fact, it was an inhumane death, one that could have been prevented.
If you are, as you say, a Filipino, then how do we explain the furlough given to politicians charged with horrendous crimes? pic.twitter.com/Y7K6E35FSw
— Eggy (@eggwardj) October 18, 2020
Another Ttwitter user @DarwinAwardsPH tweeted, “Petition to have Celine Pialago as a stand-in for Barry the MMDA barrier as reparation for not having empathy for a grieving mother.”
https://twitter.com/DarwinAwardsPH/status/1318043632260194306
Pialago later apologized to grieving mothers, including Nasino. However, she clarified that the ‘drama serye’ remark was for those people who took advantage of Nasino’s situation.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia disowned their spokesperson’s remarks saying that it was her “personal opinion” and not the agency’s.
