During her confirmation hearing on May 3, Wednesday, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo became the subject of insults from Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.
Taguiwalo, who is a single mom to two daughters, was being questioned by the senator regarding the rehabilitation plans of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for drug suspects when Sotto decided to talk about the “lighter side” of things, which to him meant grilling her about her personal life.
“Just on the lighter side, Senator Drilon and I were looking at the personal info about you. You have two children – daughters or sons?” Sotto asked, to which she replied that she had two daughters, Rappler reports.
“But you’re single?” he pressed.
“Ah okay, my life has never been a normal one. I never had a whole mother-father-children kind of thing, except when I was growing up in Bacolod. Remember I graduated from UP in 1970, I did organizing work,” shared Taguiwalo, recounting how, during martial law, she lived her life underground or in prison. “So, well, my story would be different from the stories of those who have gone through corporations, et cetera.”
“In the street language, when you have children and you are single, ang tawag lang ay na-ano lang …”
Sotto then proceeded to make a crass joke, which he commonly does to single mom contestants on his noontime show, Eat Bulaga.
“In the street language, when you have children and you are single, ang tawag lang ay na-ano lang ,” he said, meaning that single moms “just got knocked up.” Some of those present at the hearing even laughed, according to Rappler.
“Thank you. You have my 100% support,” he said.
In closing, the activist and professor stood her ground amid the unexpected insults. “Senator Sotto, I teach women’s studies. We respect all kinds of families and that includes solo parents. Thank you.”
The Gabriela Women’s Party did not let Sotto’s comments slide and have issued a statement, which you can read below.
READ: Solo parent’s guide: Your rights and privileges
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