While Vico Sotto is receiving admiration and love from netizens on social media, a radio host expressed displeasure over the media mileage being received by the Pasig City Mayor.

In a series of Facebook posts, Mark Lopez criticized Sotto and accused him of relying on public relations, mainstream media and trolls to gain popularity.

Lopez then called Sotto as the Mayor of media and not by Pasig City.

“Hindi naman Mayor ng Pasig yan eh…Mayor yan ng media… Maglolokohan pa ba tayo?” Lopez said.

“Hindi nyo na maloloko ang Pilipino. Yang trending ng Mayor nyo sa twitter? Paid media plan yan, pareho ng kay Leni,” he added.

Sotto became trending on Twitter yesterday after several bloggers questioned the sincerity of the Pasig City Mayor.

They also criticized Sotto for allowing the operation of tricycles in Pasig City despite the mass transportation suspension ordered by the national government.

The radio host’s post has gone viral on the internet and hundreds of Sotto’s supporters swarmed the comment section of Lopez’s Facebook account to criticize him.

However, Lopez accused his critics as trolls and asked the ‘PR handler’ of Sotto to hire people who legitimately living in Pasig City.

“Yung PR Handler nung Pasig Mayor, gumamit kayo totoong tao na taga Pasig kung aatake kayo sa social media, hindi mga anonymous trolls,” he said.

Lopez then questioned why Sotto was receiving too much exposure while the other Mayors who are also working hard in their respective places are not getting noticed.

“Sa Cainta nga at Marikina, ang ayos ng patakbo, at mga constituents nila talaga ang nagsasabi… Walang pa epek sa media at hindi kailangan ng trending sa twitter para mambola… There is a big difference between authentic public service versus hype and hollow rhetoric. And kitang kita naman yan.” he said.

Lopez then mentioned that he also criticized the Mayor of Las Pinas yesterday and even urged the government to file charges against her but no one criticized him on social media.

Another netizen, Krizette Laureta Chu also complained about the “anonymous trolls” who swarmed her Facebook comment section.

According to Chu, she didn’t say anything bad against Sotto, but the Mayor’s supporters became too defensive to their idol.

Because of the incident, she suspected that someone is grooming Sotto to take a higher position in the government.

“I didn’t even say anything bad about Vico Sotto, I just said he’s doing well but should stop asking for exemptions re tricycle because doctors and other people understand it’s too small to practice social distancing (passenger and driver) plus hard to disinfect it since virus known to stay in surfaces for long time,” Chu said.

“Is he the LP flag bearer for 2022 or something? Is he being groomed to take on a bigger seat that you can’t call him out? Does he have a crisis control/PR MACHINERY team? Kumalma nga kayo, at unahin muna ang 2020. Wala naman akong sinasabing nakakaloka against your mayor. Kahit basahin nyo lahat ng feed ko. Sabi Lang mali yung May pa tricycle. ANG OA HA,” she added.

“Halos murahin namin si Mel Aguilar ng Las Pinas wala namang ganitong trolls. Si Joy Belmonte nga halos madurog na on soc med. Pero one gentle reminder to Vico and trolls descend? WHY?! Seriously why is Vico untouchable all of a sudden? Natalo tuloy ang PR machinery ni Yorme sa rabidness ng trolls who defend Vico,” she also said.

While the critics of Sotto accused the Mayor of using trolls, the leader of Pasig also said that he’s being swarmed by trolls, but no time to respond to them.

“Wala po kaming panahon makipag laban sa mga trolls at paninira. Lahat na lang gusto nilang gawin politika,” Sotto said.

“Alam nyo naman po wala ako troll farm. Kayo na po bahalang tulungan ang pasig para di mabahala/malito ang mga pasigueño sa mga trolls. SALAMAT PO.” he added.

Source: [1] [2]

President Rodrigo Duterte put whole Luzon under enhanced community quarantine to control the movement of the people and prevent COVID-19 from spreading in other parts of the country.

Duterte also repeatedly said that people should ask relief goods to their barangay captains.

However, it seems that one LGU fail to inform their people about ‘social distancing’ and other things ordered by the President as hundreds of them went in front of their city hall to ask for relief goods.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas 

The city government of Las Piñas received a tremendous amount of criticisms on social media after several residents of the said place complained about the lack of relief goods.

In the photo posted by Jay Abanil Manigos, it showed people lining up and disregarding social distancing in front of Las Piñas City Hall, hoping to get a relief good from Mayor Imelda Aguilar.

Some of the people who lined up are very vulnerable senior citizens.

“Akala ko marami pamigay na relief good food,hinde kami nabigyan napagud ako sa pila,nasing uwian nalang kami di poh kami nagbigyan ng pagkain kawawa ang umuwi wlang dala ok lang man ako kahit d makatangap pero yung iba kawawa talaga,” netizen Jay Abanil Manigos said.

‘

Radio Host Mark Lopez also posted a video showing how the people are trying to get first in line for relief goods.

He urged the national government to make the officials of Las Piñas responsible for letting a mass gathering happen in front of their city hall.

“HINDI HO ITO BIRO. HINDI HO ITO PUEDE ISAWALANG BAHALA. HINDI HO ITO PUEDENG IPAGPALIBAN O UPUAN AT SASABIHAN LANG NA “UNDER INVESTIGATION NA!” NAPAKA RECKLESS PO NITO! NAPAKA IRRESPONSABLE! AT ETO HO ANG MAGPAPALALA SA SITWASYON NATIN SA BUONG BANSA! HINDI LANG PO ITO LAS PIŃAS! BUONG PILIPINAS ANG NILAGAY SA PELIGRO!” Lopez said.

As of writing, there are already six recorded cases of COVID-19 in Las Pinas.

President Duterte put Luzon under community lockdown to prevent the people from gathering as prevention against COVID-19.

Recently, Duterte urged the LGUs to follow the national government orders and the rules of the community quarantine or else they might face charges.

President Duterte announced that he’s going to ask the military to help the stranded people because of the enhanced community quarantine.

During a televised address on March 19, Duterte said that he’s going to talk to the military about the possibilities of giving accommodation and food to the stranded people who cannot go to their homes because of the community quarantine.

“Your air force and your army will help you wherever you are, kung wala ka nang mauwian, kung wala na kayong matulugan, I am asking the military commanders from different camps all over the country that you can go there and ask accommodation at pagkain,” Duterte said.

The President expressed concern to the people stranded because of the enhanced community quarantine.

“Lalo na yung mga batang nagbakasyon na walang mauuwian, walang tatanggap, my heart bleeds for them, hindi mo malaman kung saan ka pupunta, Pilipino ka naman pero wala naman tatangap sayo, to me I can understand the refusal, but more than your feeling ang akin is to somehow protect Filipinos in distress,” the President said.

The Philippine Army already launched Operation Libreng Sakay to transport the people affected by the community quarantine.

He then urged all LGUs to implement the lockdowns in their respective places “to save the people” from COVID-19.

The President also offered prayers to the people who are living in the shanties because they are facing difficulties in practicing social distancing.

“Ang pinaka remedyo dito is just to magkalayo kayo, ngayon kung bahay ninyo sa bukid ay maliliit, eh dikit dikit kayo, sabayan nalang natin ng dasal, tutulungan yung mga tao, wala sa kanilang kakayahan na mag sunod ng social distancing, better just keep your distance from strangers,” he said.

Luzon is under enhanced community quarantine since Tuesday.

Mass transportation was also temporarily suspended which affected thousands of Filipinos.

Netizens were amazed after seeing how Baguio City is following the enhanced community quarantine ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Baguio, a place was known to be very crowded suddenly became empty because of the order from the government and LGUs.

Under Executive Order No. 65, Mayor Benjamin Magalong declared community quarantine in Baguio City.

According to the executive order, “only those persons with essential travel purpose, or employment/business in the city shall be allowed to enter”.

They also disallowed people to go outside if they’re:

• 60 years old and above
• Immunocompromised persons
• Minors
• A person with a history of pulmonary ailment

Magalong also forbids anyone from doing mass gatherings and discouraged religious activities in churches.

He also warned public utility drivers to avoid violating the mass public transportation ban or else face charges.

“I am giving them (PUJ and taxi drivers) only 30 minutes to leave the streets and park their vehicles or they will face charges,” Magalong said in a statement.

The order seems enforced very well as some netizens posted photos of some popular places in Baguio.

GEN. LUNA ST.

SESSION ROAD

UPPER MABINI STREET

BAGUIO CITY PUBLIC MARKET

BURNHAM PARK

MAHARLIKA TO TIONGSAN OVERPASS

PEOPLE’S PARK

The whole Luzon placed under community quarantine since Tuesday to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.

Millions of Filipino workers were affected by the community quarantine as they’re discouraged already to go to work and stay at home to avoid being infected by the virus.

The community quarantine was expected to end next month after the Holy Week.

Netizens urged the people to calm down and stop pushing Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto to run for President, citing that there’s also a Mayor living in Davao City who got pushed by the Filipinos to run for the seat in Malacañang.

Amid the media mileage being received by Sotto after his actions to his city during the period of community, some netizens said that the Pasig Mayor is already competent to become the next President of the country.

However, some of them reminded the people that they also pushed another Mayor to become the President of the country and now they’re criticizing him.

Rodrigo Duterte was once a Mayor of Davao City and urged by the people to run as President.

He was admired because he transformed Davao City as one of the best and safest cities in the Philipines.

Here are some of the tweets we compiled:

“Filipinos declaring Vico Sotto as the next president screams the same energy when people elected Duterte as the president while he was still the mayor of Davao City, and was also doing well,” @msynnsh tweeted.

Filipinos declaring Vico Sotto as the next president screams the same energy when people elected Duterte as the president while he was still the mayor of Davao City, and was also doing well

— ▽yr△ (@msynnsh) March 19, 2020

“Mayor Vico Sotto for president? Wag na, nangyari na yan wala din naman. Remember Mayor Rodrigo Duterte? Diba halos lahat ng Pilipino gusto siyang patakbuhin bilang Presidente, pero nung naupo na puro reklamo at rally pa din. Ang point ko, wala sa administrasyon yan,” netizen @thelab74129066 said.

“So ang point ko lang, kahit sino pa ang maupo bilang President, may mga tao pa din na di makuntento sa kahit na anong gawin ng gobyerno. Kahit simula pa noon. Kay GMA, Noynoy, at sa ngayon. Ganyan ang ibang Pilipino eh lalo na yung mga nagrarally,” he added.

So ang point ko lang, kahit sino pa ang maupo bilang President, may mga tao pa din na di makuntento sa kahit na anong gawin ng gobyerno. Kahit simula pa noon. Kay GMA, Noynoy, at sa ngayon. Ganyan ang ibang Pilipino eh lalo na yung mga nagrarally tapos mukang tanga ampota.

— Philippines (@thelab74129066) March 19, 2020

“Reason kung bakit ayaw kong tumakbong president si mayor vico. Pag naging presidente sya mumura murahin nyo lang din, ganyan kayo kay duterte e! SAMIN LANG SYA SA PASIG!!!” @bleeh remarked.

Reason kung bakit ayaw kong tumakbong president si mayor vico. Pag naging presidente sya mumura murahin nyo lang din, ganyan kayo kay duterte e! SAMIN LANG SYA SA PASIG!!!? pic.twitter.com/k8TqdSUmF0

— maria (@bIeehh) March 19, 2020

“Years ago, you also wished Rodrigo Duterte to be your president then turned your back, bashing him for what he is doing now. Wag niyo sana ulitin to pag sina Isko Moreno and Vico Sotto na yung na-elect niyo,” @itsnotshew stated.

Years ago, you also wished Rodrigo Duterte to be your president then turned your back, bashing him for what he is doing now. Wag niyo sana ulitin to pag sina Isko Moreno and Vico Sotto na yung na-elect niyo. ??

— R ? (@itsnotshew) March 18, 2020

Some netizens also urged people to let Vico Sotto get experience first before running for a higher position.

“I saw this post sa fb. mayor vico sotto has been immensely recognized recently. people are clamoring for him to run for president in the future. ganun din naman si duterte before when he was still a mayor of davao. until people wanted him to run for president,” netizen @mncxdlsrys wrote.

“let’s recognize our leaders for their accomplishments pero let us not put any pressure to them. let them grow in their own pace kasi handling the Philippines is not an easy task. pasig and davao are very much different compared to an entire nation,” she added.

i saw this post sa fb. mayor vico sotto has been immensely recognized recently. people are clamoring for him to run for president in the future. ganun din naman si duterte before when he was still a mayor of davao. until people wanted him to run for president.

— general bobo. (@mncxdlsrys) March 19, 2020

“Remember when everyone was also admiring Pres. Duterte when he was still the Mayor of Davao? And now, here comes Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig. I’m not siding anyone here, it’s just that, being a mayor is so much different from being a president. Well, that’s my opinion,” @itsmaryeeel said.

Remember when everyone was also admiring Pres. Duterte when he was still the Mayor of Davao? And now, here comes Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig. I'm not siding anyone here, it's just that, being a mayor is so much different from being a president.
Well, that's my opinion++

— A❤️ MNHT (@itsMaryeeel) March 19, 2020

A netizen even said that what happened in 2015 seems happening again in 2020.

However, even if the supporters of Vico Sotto insist, the Pasig Mayor is still not allowed to run for President as he’s only 30-years old while the age requirement for being a chief executive candidate is 40.

It means that Sotto needs to wait for 10 more years to become qualified. The earliest possible time he can run is the 2034 presidential election.

Fans of Vico Sotto criticized former Vice President Noli De Castro for allegedly throwing shade to the Mayor.

In an episode of TV Patrol on March 18, De Castro made a side comment to Vico Sotto’s appeal to the government, asking them to allow the tricycles to operate in Pasig City.

“Kami po sinusubukan namin ang lahat…pero kulang pa rin po talaga sa ngayon. Nakikiusap po ako sa ating nasyonal na pamahalaan, baka naman po pwedeng bigyan ng konsiderasyon ‘yung mga tricycle,” Sotto said.

However, De Castro seems unimpressed by the Mayor’s appeal.

“Baka hindi niya alam na bawal ang public transpo.” De Castro said.

The former Vice President then said that the national government already reminded the LGUs not to allow tricycles to operate because it might result in a domino effect.

“Hindi daw dapat payagan ang mga tricycle kasi pag pinayagan ng Pasig, lahat na ng tricycle sa Metro Manila ay magrereklamo na Pasig lamang, so wala bang binibigay na serbisyo behikulo sa siyudad ng Pasig si Mayor,” he said.

The netizens didn’t like the comment of De Castro and started to criticize the veteran journalist on social media.

“Dear Noli de Castro, STOP PAINTING Vico Sotto in a bad light just because he’s asking permission to have tricycles operate in Pasig. May I remind you that you were involved in a corruption scandal with HLURB during your term as VP,” @jordans_magic said.

Dear Noli de Castro, STOP PAINTING Vico Sotto in a bad light just because he's asking permission to have tricycles operate in Pasig. May I remind you that you were involved in a corruption scandal with HLURB during your term as VP.

— ?ジョルダン⁷ RESPECT? ??? (@jordans_magic) March 18, 2020

“NOLI DE CASTRO looks very irritated at the report of JEFF CANOY about the vigor and dynamic measures and humane leadership of Mayor Vico Sotto. Its because that is something he was not. Being VP during Arroyo’s term, he showed no LEADERSHIP, NO DYNAMISM, NO HUMANITY,” @westzian remarked.

NOLI DE CASTRO looks very irritated at the report of JEFF CANOY about the vigor and dynamic measures and humane leadership of Mayor Vico Sotto.

Its because that is something he was not. Being VP during Arroyo's term, he showed no LEADERSHIP, NO DYNAMISM, NO HUMANITY.

— ??Pusong Filipino?? (@WestZian) March 18, 2020

“Noli de Castro‘s analysis is too simplistic: “National government says bawal, therefore that’s right.” Vico Sotto is on the ground in Pasig. He knows what people need. Kabayan has wrong priorities. It’s not just about the letter of the rules. It’s about saving people!” netizen @romesdiary stated.

Noli de Castro's analysis is too simplistic: "National government says bawal, therefore that's right." Vico Sotto is on the ground in Pasig. He knows what people need.

Kabayan has wrong priorities. It's not just about the letter of the rules. It's about saving people!

— Kip Oebanda (@kipoebanda) March 18, 2020

The Department of Interior and Local Government told Vico Sotto that his request was denied.

“We respect the opinion of mayor Vico Sotto in Pasig ngunit pasensya na po mayor hindi po talaga namin kayo pwedeng pagbigyan,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Thursday in a press briefing.

“Kasi po if we allow mass transportation in Pasig…magrerequest na po ang lahat. Pag ginawa po natin yan, we give an exemption, it will defeat the entire purpose of the quarantine,” he added.

The daughter of Liberal Party President and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan took a swipe to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to deploy the military around Luzon amid the community lockdown due to COVID-19.

Singer-composer Frankie Pangilinan used Disney’s Rapunzel movie “Tangled” to criticize the Duterte administration’s alleged militarization of Luzon.

She cited the song “When Will My Life Begin”, and changed some of the lyrics to fit her message against the Duterte administration.

In the lyrics, she asked the condition of the nurses and also questioned why the government believes that the military was “necessary” to the fight against COVID-19.

Pangilinan even sarcastically asked if the weapon being used by the military could clear the virus.

“So I’ll read a book or maybe two or three ?
I’ll add a few new paintings to my gallery ?
I’ll play guitar ?
and knit ?
and cook ??
and basically ??‍♀️
just wondering
how are our health workers?
why is the military force necessary?
are guns supposed to kll the virus?
ANUBA TALAGA,”

When President Duterte declared the community quarantine in Metro Manila on March 12, the chief executive deployed the military to ensure the peace and order for one month.

A follower of Pangilinan explained the purpose of the military during the community quarantine.

“Our Military are necessary due to the limited number of our health workers. Their purpose is limited to general crowd control. Though, sana, equipped din sila ng PPEs and meron ding at least isang health worker na kasama. They are part of a cluster in Incident Command Systems,” @robipastera told Pangilinan.

Pangilinan responded, saying that she’s only concerned that instead of sanitizing paraphernalia, the military was shown carrying their weapons.

“Yes po I’m more concerned about the fact it appears they’re mobilizing for something else. in South Korea for example, all military personnel are equipped with sanitization paraphernalia. in comparison, ours are armed,” Pangilinan said.

yes po i’m more concerned about the fact it appears they’re mobilizing for something else. in south korea for example, all military personnel are equipped with sanitization paraphernalia. in comparison, ours are armed.

— frankie pangilinan (@kakiep83) March 17, 2020

She also stated that the government had the chance to prepare earlier for the virus.

“At any rate, we had months to prepare for this and could’ve easily been much more on top of it than we are now. the test kits should’ve been mass produced and government funded. and now we’re panic mode because there was neither adequate prevention nor preparation,” she said.

at any rate, we had months to prepare for this and could’ve easily been much more on top of it than we are now. the test kits should’ve been mass produced and government funded. and now we’re panic mode because there was neither adequate prevention nor preparation.

— frankie pangilinan (@kakiep83) March 17, 2020

Several critics of the government suspected that the Duterte administration is planning to declare martial law, however, the President denied it, saying that the current situation doesn’t need it.

Pangilinan is not the only public personality who questioned the decisions of the Duterte administration, even artist Juan Miguel Severo took a swipe to the President, saying that the virus may really stay away from the police and soldiers because they’re more frightening because of the alleged EJKs they committed.

The officials of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in Davao City informed Mayor Inday Sara Duterte that they’re going to follow the community quarantine rules in Davao City.

In an interview with DCDR 87.5, Mayor Duterte said that she received a text from INC, informing her that they’re going to temporarily stop their religious activities as a response to the executive order signed by the presidential daughter.

“Kami po ay susunod sa alintuntunin ng gobyerno at pansamantala po muna naming ipapatigil ang aming pagtitipon tipon sa bawat kapilya,” Inday Sara said while reading the text from INC.

The Mayor thanked her brothers and sisters in INC for responding positively to her request.

She was also glad that INC didn’t think that her request is an infringement of their religious freedom.

Inday Sara said that the members of Iglesia Ni Cristo can still do their religious activities via the internet or other ways without having a mass gathering.

“They can find other modes on how to exercise their religion na hindi mag mass gathering,” Duterte said.

A few days ago, Mayor Duterte sent a warning to INC, asking them to stop their religious activities or else face legal actions.

“We already told you through an executive order that all religious ceremonies should be suspended. I want to remind members of Iglesia Ni Cristo that praying inside the church will not save you from the virus. It will not prevent you from getting infected and from getting sick,” Duterte said.

“If we cannot appeal to INC to suspend their activities, then we are exploring what we can do on the legal side,” she added.

Some members of INC defended their actions after reading Duterte’s warning and declared that no one could stop them from doing their religious activity.

“INC has always been very supportive of the Government programs as long as it does not interfere with our faith, especially our freedom of worship,” INC member Wally Cuarto stated.

“Kung may masamang mangyari sa amin tulad ng digmaan, baha, salot o taggutom, haharap kami sa TEMPLONG ITO upang humingi ng tulong sa iyo sapagkat dito ka sinasamba, tatawag kami sa iyo, papakinggan mo kami at ililigtas sa panahon ng aming kagipitan. (2 Cronica 20:9) BMBB” he added.

They also explained that they’re following social distancing and deployed nurses in some of their churches to check their members.