Senator Imee Marcos has defended herself from accusations that she mocked the plight of those working for extended hours through a Facebook video by saying it was only a "satire."
In a statement, Marcos said "nowhere in the skit does anyone mock the heroic sacrifice of pandemic frontliners." But instead, she added, "we poked fun at those who trivialize inhumane working conditions."
The lawmaker was referring to a video entitled "Pagod Len-len" posted on her Facebook account on Friday where she and two other fellow actresses questioned the possibility of working for 18 hours a day.
Amid criticisms and allegations that she was mocking those who really work for most of their day, Marcos said "the video is a mere satire, promoting, among other things, fair and protected practices in every workplace."
"My legislative record will attest to my long-standing advocacy not only for our health care workers and other frontliners, but also those in the informal sector, our seniors, PWD's, women, working youth and farm laborers," she added.
Marcos also clarified that the statement on her video caption, where she wrote "anyone who claims to work 18 hours a day is either lying or stupid," is not hers.
She said the quote was taken from an article that discussed about extended but unproductive work.
Over the weekend, several social media users called out Marcos after being not pleased with her dialogue.
For Faye Rab, a Facebook user who commented on her video, Marcos' remarks are "unbelievable." She said it is "disgusting for a senator to mock public servants who actually do their jobs, and for mocking Filipinos who work hard."