QC House bet calls for issues-based discussions amid tensions
MANILA, Philippines — Businesswoman Rose Nono Lin, who is seeking the congressional seat of Quezon City’s 5th District, has called on candidates to focus discussions on issues amid rising tensions that has affected even their supporters.
Lin, in a statement on Tuesday said that insulting people will not solve the problems of their constituents.
“I encourage everyone to keep discussions focused on addressing the real needs of our district,” Lin said.
“Ang pang-iinsulto at pangmamaliit sa ibang tao, wala pong naitutulong yan sa pag-aayos ng mga tunay na problema ng ating distrito (Insulting and belittling others does nothing to solve the real issues in our district),” she added.
The businesswoman was referring to a recent incident caught on a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera showing alleged supporters of incumbent Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas removing Lin’s campaign posters in a residential area of Barangay San Bartolome.
Videos posted on social media showed that barangay officials intervened after a quarrel from leaders of both camps, due to the removal of Lin’s posters.
INQUIRER.net has messaged Rep. Vargas for his comment on the issue, but he has not replied as of posting time.
The removal of Lin’s posters is the latest incident showing rising tension between the two candidates’ camps.
Last February, entertainment commentator and talent manager Ogie Diaz expressed shock over a video showing Rep. Vargas’ brother, actor-politician Alfred Vargas, allegedly mocking the physical appearances of their political rivals.
In the video, Alfred joked that he and his brother prefer good-looking candidates, while they referred to their political opponents as looking like drug addicts.
READ: Alfred Vargas attacks poll rivals’ looks at campaign sortie
“Kami ni Cong. PM, pag namimili kami, pinipili namin magaganda’t gwapo. Kasi yung titingnan ninyo, ‘yung mga nakukuhang leaders ng mga kalaban namin, mga mukhang adik,” Vargas said.
(Congressman PM and I, when we choose, we pick the beautiful and handsome ones. Because if you look at the leaders our opponents get, they look like addicts.)
“Totoo di ba? Tsaka puro may mga utang. Hindi nagbabayad. Totoo, ‘di ba? Kilala namin ‘yung mga leaders ng kabila eh. Hindi ba, bro? Kaya sa tingin ko, Colonel, marami kayong ikukulong na mga adik,” he added.
(It’s true, right? And they all have debts. They don’t pay up. It’s true, right? We know the leaders of the other side. Don’t we, bro? So I think, Colonel, you’ll be locking up a lot of addicts.)
