Baricuatro defends Marcos: ‘The President is also working hard’

Local

CEBU Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has defended the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. from criticisms, saying the chief executive is also working hard.

Baricuatro said she knows this herself, being among those who work in the executive branch.

Among the programs of the administration is the “Bigay Bigas Para sa Masa”, which distributes 10 kilos of rice to beneficiaries.

"Let us give credit where credit is due. Naningkamot ug nitrabaho sad og dako ug pag-ayo ang atong Presidente," Baricuatro told beneficiaries of the Capitol's fuel assistance program in Compostela town, northern Cebu on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

"Contrary to what has been told in social media nga walay nahimo ang administrasyon, dili tawon. I should know because I work with them, I work with the administration. Naa mi sa executive branch, so nakita gyud nako nga naa sad gyud silay nahimo, usa ani, kani atoang bugas," Baricuatro added.

Aside from the fuel assistance, the governor also led the distribution of 10 kilos of rice to 1,348 beneficiaries.

The Bigay Bigas Para sa Masa program is funded through the Local Support Fund (LGSF).

During the distribution, the governor also emphasized that her priority right now is to serve and not politics.

She said her first term as governor has not been easy, as aside from the earthquake and typhoon that hit Cebu last year, she also faced backlash from her critics, especially on social media.

She noted that some of her allies have turned their backs against her because of her current stand.

"Naa pa gyud mga kauban nako sa una nga pareha mi'g color nga masuko nga dili ko mokuyog nila," she said.

Baricuatro reiterated that she was given the mandate by the people to serve them after she won the elections with 1.1 million votes.

The governor added that she will not fail the mandate given to her, saying her loyalty to the party ends when her loyalty to the people begins.

"Sa ako na gikaingon, wala sa tay politika, kay kumbati pa ta karon sa pagrecover nato diri sa bagyo ug sa earthquake. So kinahanglan ta og tabang sa national government. Ug wala gyud siya (Marcos) nagkulang sa iyahang pagtabang diri kanako, mao na nga trabaho lang sa ko ron, serbisyo para makahatag ko og serbisyo ninyo. Mangaway ko sa national dili ko matagaan og bugas wala koy mahatag ninyo. So I hope nakasabot mo nga niingon ko nga colorless lang una ko" Baricuatro said.

"Wala man ko nakalimot sa mga tawo nga nakatabang nako pero kinahanglan pero kinahanglan man sad ta og tabang karon so di lang sa ta mangaway" she added.

Baricuatro has been receiving backlash, especially from some Duterte loyalists, who accused her of being a political turncoat for supposedly switching loyalty from the Dutertes to the Marcoses.

The governor emphasized that she is "colorless" as she intends to focus on her work.(MyTVCebu)