Facebook users reacted negatively towards Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s question to DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo about being a single mom during the latter’s confirmation hearing.
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A certain Raphael Phoebus Ubales posted snippets of the exchange between Sotto and Taguiwalo during the Commission on Appointments’ session on May 3.
“Sotto’s last question during Sec Judy’s hearing:
Sotto: On a lighter note, secretary. We’ve been looking at your personal information and found out that you have two children?
Sec Judy: Yes, two daughters.
Sotto: But you’re single? *room laughs*
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Sec Judy: I’ve never had a ‘normal family’, if that’s how you call it, growing up. But it’s a non-issue. I’ve been underground and been to prison. My story is different growing up.
Sotto: Ah kasi in the street language, if you have kids, tapos wala kang asawa ang tawag diyan ‘na-ano lang’. *more laugther*
Sec Judy: Senator, I teach women’s studies in UP. We respect all kinds of families, and that includes solo parents. Thank you.”
Ubales then proceeded to curse Sotto, along with the hashtag urging the confirmation of Taguiwalo as social welfare secretary.
And the netizens’ comments on his post obviously showed their anger towards Sotto as well, while praising Taguiwalo.
One said that with his line of questioning and reaction, Sotto just insulted all the single parents in the Philippines.
Others were angry over the fact that the audience laughed along with Sotto.
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Some also hit him for the “stupidity” of his reaction and for doing it in “bad taste,” showing his “disrespect” to Taguiwalo.
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Ubales also included a link of Taguiwalo’s confirmation hearing, as posted by ABS-CBN, with a note about how Sotto’s offensive questioning started at 46:35.
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