Witness: PWD in viral video not forced to discredit Pasig mayor
MANILA, Philippines – No one forced or coerced the 57-year-old person with disability (PWD) who went viral on social media channels to speak against Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
A city resident has come out in an interview with Radyo Inquirer Online that neither the woman nor any of the other Pasigueños who were interviewed by a vlogger during the time when they were in line to get free rice were forced to go on video for the interview.
Alias Ronnel, who said that he was among those who complied with the vlogger’s request, likewise said that their response to the questions posed by the interviewer was not scripted.
“Wala pong nangyaring pilitan. Choice mo naman po yun kung magpapa-interview ka o hindi, kung gusto mo o hindi. Wala pong sapilitan na nangyari,” Ronnel said.
Ronnel narrated that the interviewer approached them while they were lining up for the free rice that was being distributed at the time.
The PWD, he said, was standing behind him.
The free rice, he said, can be availed by Pasigueños who hold an SGC ID which is being distributed by the “Team Kaya This” of mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya.
The ID allows holders to avail of free health services, including free hospitalization.
“Wala naman pong pamimilit eh. Ako nga po ininterview ako. Ako po, tinanong ako kung pwede akong interview-hin. Marami kaming nandun na tinanong kung pwede kaming interview-hin,” Ronnel said.
He added: “Hindi po ako naniniwala na may sapilitan na nangyari. Napakarami po (namin na nandun). May mga senior, may mga totoong PWD, na kasabayan namin. Napakaraming tao. Paano ka mapipilit? Siksikan, tabi tabi kami.”
He likewise said that he noted that the woman in the video did not look like a PWD because she acted and talked like a regular individual.
Ronnel also said he was not forced by anyone to go to the distribution event.
“Wala naman pong nanghihikayat na pumunta ka dun,” he said.
Ronnel expressed disappointment that people have maligned Discaya for her public service.
He likewise expressed doubt that Discaya or her party would abuse PWDs, pointing out that the Discaya couple’s children are PWDs themselves.
“May anak din si Ate Sarah na PWD. Napakalabong gamitin ni Ate Sarah ang ganung sistema na napakaruming pulitika. Tumutulong siya mula sa puso tapos sasabihin gagamitin niya ang mga taong may kapansanan? Parang napakasakit naman nun para kay Ate Sarah na ikaw na nga ang tumutulong, ikaw pa ang napapasama,” Ronnel said.
The “Team Kaya This” has earlier committed to help in the ongoing investigation into the incident as it denounced malicious imputations that their team was behind the alleged propaganda against Sotto.
Ronnel appealed to Pasigueños not to speak against people who have been helping families who are in the marginalized sector like him, and instead be grateful that there is someone who is looking out for them.
He likewise urged city officials to strengthen the city government’s program on persons with disabilities, senior citizens and the poor instead of mocking or bashing those who are helping those who are in need.
Ronnel, whose identity was hidden for security purposes, was interviewed to clarify the viral video of the woman that was uploaded on the Facebook page “The Journal Pasig,” which showed the 57-year-old PWD complaining about Sotto and saying that she is not going to vote for him again in the May 12 elections.
Because it involved a PWD, the Department of Social Welfare and Development conducted an investigation and said that the PWD was supposedly “forced” to discredit Sotto in exchange for three kilos of rice.
