After gaining criticisms over her “lavish” wedding, DUMPER PTDA party-list Representative Claudine Diana Bautista on Friday defended her special day, adding that she is hurt with the negative comments from some netizens.
In a statement sent to reporters, Bautista said that while she acknowledges the sentiments of the public regarding her wedding, which, according to her, was supposed to be a “private and personal milestone,” she is sad that her wedding day has been turned into a “political spectacle.”
“My husband has been planning this special day with me for years even before the pandemic, and it pains us to see how things after our wedding turned out. This was supposed to be the culminating event of a decades-long love story,” Bautista said.
“We both found many of the comments heartbreaking. This celebration of our love was a product of my husband’s hard work,” she added.
She stressed that she and her husband did not intend to make the wedding a public affair as they wanted to keep it as intimate as possible. However, it was famous fashion designer, Michael Cinco, who “mistakenly” posted the event.
“He has since, also apologized for bringing unwanted attention to an event that was supposed to be separate from my life as a public servant,” Bautista said.
Cinco designed Bautista’s wedding gown.
The lawmaker said she wants to move past the issue and focus on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and giving better service to her constituents.
“I will no longer indulge in the statements by people of influence against me as I will leave it up to my legal team to address this,” Bautista said.
The partylist lawmaker drew flak for having a wedding party at the members-only, private leisure Balesin island in this time of pandemic. She is representing the sector of jeepney drivers, many of whom had lost their jobs due to the health crisis.
Amid all this, Senator Risa Hontiveros reminded public officials to observe a modest lifestyle.
According to Article XI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, “Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”
Section 2 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees also stated that public officials should “lead modest lives.”
Aid for drivers
When it comes to helping the sector she is representing, Bautista said she has always preferred “to act silently and let my actions speak for themselves.”
She said she has been able to help around 18,000 drivers of public utility vehicles to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and provided them with aid through programs of government agencies.
The lawmaker noted that she had advocated the immediate release of the financial assistance to PUV drivers by filing a resolution at the House of Representatives.
“I know that I have been doing everything in my capacity to get our sector through this pandemic and I understand that there are still some issues and concerns that have yet to be fixed. I assure everyone that we have never taken our eyes off of these concerns,” Bautista said.
Aside from relief aid, she mentioned that she had donated P3 million to doctors and nurses, from her “personal funds,” to make sure that their sacrifice in this time of health crisis is recognized.
“As a public servant, I have always been transparent with my office’s accomplishments and ongoing efforts, and we will continue to do so despite detractors aiming to change the narrative and devalue our achievements,” Bautista said.
“Kaysa magsiraan tayo, ilaan natin ang enerhiyang meron tayo bilang isang komunidad sa pag-ahon mula sa pandemyang ito,” she added.—LDF, GMA News
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