Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, August 17 said she is not at all surprised at the criticisms hurled against DUMPER-PTD Partylist Rep. Claudine “Dendee” Bautista who held a “lavish” wedding ceremony at the five-star Balesin Island Resort in Polilio, Quezon amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hontiveros said many people will find it inappropriate considering that the pandemic has rendered many people jobless, particularly the public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who were not able to receive their fair share of cash assistance during the pandemic and are struggling to find food for their families.

“Kaming lahat naman na nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno, para sa akin, pinakaimportanteng utos sa amin ay yung modest lifestyle di ba (For us who are working in government, I think, what is important is the directive for us to live a modest lifestyle, right)?” Hontiveros said during an online interview with reporters.

“Kaming mga officials at pati yung mga empleyado sa gobyerno ay hinihimok na (We officials and even employees in government are told) to live within our means, to live modestly....Kaya naiintindihan ko talaga kung bakit napaka sensitibong issue ito sa mga kababayan natin (That’s why I understand why this is such a sensitive issue to our people),” she said.

“Para sa akin, leksyon sa aming lahat na nagtratrabaho sa gobyerno na magkaroon ng pakikisa sa ating mga kababayan lalo na sa ganitong mga ubod na mahirap na panahon (For me, this is a lesson for all of us working in government to be sensitive to the plight of our fellowmen especially during this crisis),” she said.

Bautista, a representative of the Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights party list (DUMPER), earlier earned flak after it her extravagant wedding in Balesin became viral on social media.

The senator noted the transportation sector is one of the hardest-hit by the pandemic and many PUV drivers have been displaced due to the stringent health protocols, lockdowns imposed by the national task force against COVID-19.