Civic leader Samira Gutoc, who hails from war-torn Marawi City, told off former newscaster Jay Sonza who questioned her mental state.
Sonza previously aired his ire against Gutoc on April 28, the day of the televised senatorial debate organized by CNN Philippines.
question lang. may diperensiya ba si samira gutoc? iba klase kasi ang dating niya tuwing magbubukas siya ng bibig.
— Jay Sonza (@JaySonza3) April 28, 2019
Days later, Gutoc responded to repeat her position on national issues.
Rape jokes, PWD jokes, they come from the same monster. I will not stand idly as you make disability a laughing matter. How far you fell from grace, and you think you can still joke your way into relevance? I am sure it will not resurrect your dead journalistic career. #36Gutoc https://t.co/4eI0DUKkyb
— Samira Gutoc (@SamiraGutoc) May 1, 2019
“Rape jokes, PWD jokes, they come from the same monster. I will not stand idly as you make disability a laughing matter,” she said.
She also mocked Sonza’s current situation as a retired TV personality.
“How far you fell from grace, and you think you can still joke your way into relevance? I am sure it will not resurrect your dead journalistic career,” Gutoc said. Sonza, however, was not a journalist, but a broadcaster.
Gutoc is running under the opposition slate Otso Diretso in the midterm elections this month.
She is joined by Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, and former Deputy House Speaker Erin Tañada, Bam Aquino and Mar Roxas.
Of them, only Aquino was able to make it to the coveted hypothetical Magic 12 in the latest senatorial survey of Pulse Asia. His score was even tied with Jinggoy Estrada.
Gutoc previously admitted that the opposition bloc lacked leverage in terms of finance and machinery against the administration-allied Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.
“It’s not resignation. What I mean is [they are] more advantaged in finance, more advantaged sila in machinery,” she said.
Gutoc, along with Hilbay and others, tries to use social media platforms instead to boost their influence to the public.
RELATED: Senatorial bet Samira Gutoc didn’t back down on DFA chief Locsin on Twitter
The members, except Aquino and Roxas, also participated in the recent electoral debate held at the University of Santo Tomas. CNN Philippines hosted the event.
They went against two candidates from Hugpong, Senator JV Ejercito and former Bureau of Corrections chief Bato dela Rosa.
Other senatorial hopefuls who attended were former labor interior and labor secretary Sec. Raffy Alunan, former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong and Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.
