Coconut farmers from Quezon province and the Bicol region criticize the alleged connivance between businessman Danding Cojuangco and presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe on the use of the Coco Levy Fund, during a press conference in Quezon City on Monday.(MNS photo)
ILIGAN CITY (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday clarified that her new political advertisement about the importance of respect was not conceptualized as a response to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s recent controversial remark on rape.
Poe said the concept for the 30-second ad, which featured various faces of women, was already formed before Duterte drew flak for making light of the sexual assault and killing of an Australian missionary in Davao City in 1989.
“Matagal na yang script na ‘yan. Meron pa nga kaming isa about work. Yung nauna doon, kung nakita niyo, yung parang omnibus na andun lahat ng mga platform. Tapos ngayon, siyempre as we get to the ano… Nag-timing talaga. Masasabi ko na importante rin talaga na malaman din ang respeto ay mahalaga,” she said at the sidelines of her sortie here.
Several new ads highlighting her other advocacies would be released in the coming days, the senator added.
Poe’s latest ad, which was posted on her official Facebook page Tuesday, opened with the senator asking why women are being treated poorly.
“Bakit tayong mga babae binabastos, binabalewala, minamaliit, hinihiya?” she asked.
Poe then vowed that under her “Gobyernong may Puso,” everyone would be respected.
“Sa Gobyernong may Puso, gagalangin ang lahat—mayaman o mahirap. Ganoon dapat ang pangulo,” she said.
“Ako po si Grace Poe, gumagalang sa lahat,” the senator added.
Poe had slammed Duterte’s controversial comments as “distatesteful and disrespectful” and said rape is no laughing matter.
The mayor initially refused to apologize for his remarks although he admitted that it was said in bad taste.
He, however, eventually issued an apology, saying he didn’t mean to disrespect women.
Even before publicly outcry over Duterte’s remark started, Poe said she has been advocating for respect for all people.
“Kung sinusundan naman ninyo ang kampanya ko, makikita niyo naman na palagi kong sinasabi na pantay-pantay dapat lahat,” she said. (MNS)