DRIVERS United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights (Dumper) Partylist Representative Claudine Diana Bautista said she is saddened over her wedding becoming a “political spectacle.”
In a statement forwarded to the media on Thursday, August 19, Bautista had acknowledged “all of the sentiments asserted by everyone.”
Her statement comes days after controversy sparked on social media with netizens criticizing her for holding a “lavish” wedding while the plight of her constituents remains unaddressed amid the pandemic. Based on news reports, several known personalities like Agot Isidro, Enchong Dee, Ogie Diaz, and Pokwang also criticized Bautista.
Bautista, daughter of Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista, drew flak from netizens after Dubai-based fashion designer Michael Cinco posted a photograph of the wedding gown on social media.
"I hear you, and I have internalized all of the grievances that were brought up in light of what was supposed to be a private and personal milestone. Although given the situation, I would also like to express my sadness over how my wedding day, something that I have separated from my work as a public official, has been made into a political spectacle," Bautista said.
The Davao Occidental-based representative explained that the wedding had been planned for a long time with her husband, Jose French “Tracker” Lim, a businessman.
Bautista said she and her husband were hurt "to see how things after our wedding turned out."
"This was supposed to be the culminating event of a decades-long love story," Bautista said.
She described Lim as a “kind and loving person” who merely wanted to give her the wedding of her dreams. She also admitted they were hurt by the negative comments online.
"This celebration of our love was a product of my husband’s hard work," she added.
The Dumper solon said they intended it to be a private wedding to keep it "as intimate as possible."
"However, access was unintentionally given through the post of my wedding gown designer, Michael Cinco and he mistakenly posted about the private event," she said.
The congresswoman said Cinco already apologized for the "unwanted attention" his post caused.
Bautista, meanwhile, responded to those who have been questioning her integrity as a public servant.
"Working for a public office, I have always valued the integrity of my work. I have always preferred to act silently and let my actions speak for themselves. I know that I have been doing everything in my capacity to get our sector through this pandemic and I understand that there are still some issues and concerns that have yet to be fixed. I assure everyone that we have never taken our eyes off of these concerns," she said.
The representative said her partylist was able to help vaccinate 18,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers. She also said they were able to provide assistance to thousands more through government assistance programs implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and Department of Labor-Tupad.
To address the effects of the pandemic, she also distributed more than P1.1 million worth grocery packs, personal protective equipment (PPEs), free insurance policies, and relief assistance to affected PUV drivers and commuters.
She also donated P3 million to doctors and nurses from her personal funds "to ensure that their tireless sacrifice is recognized."
The solon said she will move on with the issue and focus on addressing the pandemic and serve her constituents better.
"I will no longer indulge in the statements by people of influence against me as I will leave it up to my legal team to address this," Bautista said.
"Kaysa magsiraan tayo, ilaan natin ang enerhiyang meron tayo bilang isang komunidad sa pag-ahon mula sa pandemyang ito," she also said.
(Instead of bashing each other, let us redirect our energy in overcoming this pandemic as a community.)
Meanwhile, actor Enchong Dee has apologized for his comments against the legislator.
“I have been reckless in the tweet I posted and I take full responsibility for my lapse in judgement," Dee said on Twitter.