Pialago apologizes to Nacino, refused to take back ‘drama serye’ remark

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago on Monday apologized to detained activist Reina Mae Nacino but refused to take back her “drama serye” remark.

 drew flak for her remark on detained activist Reina Mae Nasino and her daughter River who died away from her mother.

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Pialago posted on Sunday, October 18, that not all jailed mothers could attend to their children’s burials. She added that people should find out more about who Nasino is and why she was arrested and detained.

“Masyado ninyong ginagawang pang-drama serye sa hapon ang paghihinagpis niya. Tigilan ‘nyo!” she added to the now-deleted post.

(You’re making her grief like an afternoon drama series. Stop it!)

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“Nagso-sorry ako doon sa mga grieving mothers, to Reina also. Ako po ay personally na nakikiramay,” Pialago told GMA News Online.

However, the MMDA official said she would not retract her statement likening the outpouring of sympathy to Nacino and baby River to a “drama serye.”

“Hindi ako magwi-withdraw. Pero gusto kong ma-emphasize ‘yung salitang dramaserye. Na-highlight kasi ng netizens natin sa Facebook  tila ba binabatikos ko ‘yung paghihinagpis ni Reina,” she said.

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Also read: Enchong Dee calls Pialago ‘heartless, unintelligent’

Pialago apologizes to Nacino

“Ang pino-point out ko sa ‘dramaserye’ ay ‘yung mga kababayan natin na kina-capitalize nila ‘yung issue of a grieving mother,” Pialago said.

Pialago, who said her remark was her own and not part of her MMDA spokesperson role, said that she only wanted to educate the public about the issue.

“Nagsasalita ako simula noong nagkaroon ako ng knowledge noong pumasok ako sa Reserved Force. So nalaman ko ‘yung pros and cons, yung pag-handle ng ganitong high profile cases,” she said.

“On a positive note, I want to educate people,” she added.

For the MMDA spokesperson, the public should know more about Nacino first and her case before sympathizing with her.

“That’s why I said, bago kayo sumimpatya alamin niyo muna, tignan niyo muna sino ba si Reina,” she told GMA News Online.

“’Yung tinutukoy ko po so dramaserye ay ‘yung mga taong sumisimptya sa sitwasyon niya para maka-capitalize ‘yung sarili nilang interest,” she added.