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Sa confirmation hearing bago ang Commission on Appointments (CA) ngayong May 3, natanong ni Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III si Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo tungkol sa kanyang personal na buhay.

Ika niya, “Just on the lighter side, Senator Drilon and I were looking at the personal information about you, and you have two children, daughters ba or sons? Two daughters. But you're single?”

Agad naman itong sinagot ni DSWD Chief Taguiwalo, na hindi lahat ay may "normal" na buhay, kung 'yun ang perception niya sa kung ano ang "normal," at may ibang tao na iba ang istorya at iba rin ang mga pinagdadaanan sa buhay. At dapat lang respetuhin 'yun. 

Paliwanag ni Taguiwalo, “Okay. My life has never been a normal one. Remember, I graduated from University of the Philippines (UP) in 1970, I did organizing work from 1972 up to the 1986. It has been a life underground and or in prison. So, my story would be different from the stories of those who have gone through UP, a corporation, etc.”

Pagkatapos magpaliwanag ni Sec. Taguiwalo, sumagot muli si Sotto, “In the street language, if you have kids tapos wala kang asawa, ang tawag diyan, 'na-ano lang.' Thank you, you have my 100 percent support, madam secretary.”

Bilang isang women's rights advocate, agad namang may sagot si Sec. Taguiwalo sa komento ni Sen. Sotto sa mga single mother.  Aniya, “Okay. Senator Sotto, I teach women's studies. We respect all kinds of families, and that includes solo parents. Thank you.”

CRITICISM

Umani ng batikos si Sen. Sotto nang dahil sa sinabi niya. Nag-trending din ang senador sa social media dahil dito. Maraming netizens ang nagalit dahil sa diumano ay "insensitive remark” ni Sen. Sotto.

Sa tweet ni Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, dinepensahan niya si Sec. Taguiwalo na "walang mali sa pagiging solo parent" dahil isang "marangal at matapang na desisyon ito."

There is nothing wrong with a woman who chooses to be a solo parent. It is an honorable and courageous act. #SoloParentsLaw #MyMother

— Marvic Leonen (@marvicleonen) May 3, 2017

Isa pa sa mga naalarma sa sinabi ni Sotto ang Gabriela Women's Party List. Ayon sa grupo: "Solo parents, including the DSWD secretary, should no way be at the receiving end of such insults. We demand a public apology from the senator."

PUBLIC APOLOGY

 

A post shared by Tito Sotto (@helenstito) on Mar 21, 2017 at 1:52am PDT

Sa interview kay Sen. Sotto sa 24 Oras, humingi ito ng tawad sa kanyang mga sinabi. Ika niya, "The last person who will disrespect a woman or an unmarried woman would be myself because I have a daughter who is not married and have two sons. My mother is the founder of the women’s right movement and president emerita of the Kababaihang Rizalista."

Dagdag pa niya, "So, I don't think they should expect me to disrespect anyone, especially a woman. But if ever ganun ang dating sa kanila, then I apologize. Although it was a joke, and I do apologize if they are offended. In the CA under the sun can be asked about any nominee, just a reminder."

MORE ON THE SOTTO FAMILY:

Vic Sotto to celebrate birthday in Balesin with wife Pauleen and kids Danica, Oyo, Vico and Paulina 

IN PHOTOS: Vic Sotto's 63rd birthday in Balesin 

9 times Pauleen Luna showed her love for husband Vic Sotto's kids