DAVAO CITY – Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno said the comic strip depiction of presidential aspirant Manuel Roxas II as a hero during typhoon Yolanda is “a lie that no Filipino believes”.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 29, Elmer Labog, KMU chairperson said: “It is simply revolting that he wants to depict himself a hero despite the deaths of thousands, if not tens of thousands, of our kababayans in Eastern Visayas.”
The controversial comics features Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas during the typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas. It went viral in the social media accounts after it was distributed in a political rally in Cavite on Sunday, March 27.
“Roxas and Noynoy Aquino should in fact be held accountable for trying to win some “brownie (pogi)” points when Yolanda was about to hit the country, but showed criminal neglect when the super typhoon actually struck,” he said.
He said the controversial comics do not do well for Roxas.
‘Insulting, disturbing’
Meanwhile, Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap said the comic strip “is the most insulting and disturbing political ad of Roxas to bolster its campaign.”
“Thousands of people who perished during the super storm would roll on their graves by this latest act of the ruling party to get the votes of the people,” said Hicap.
He said more than two years after the typhoon, survivors continue to suffer from inadequate service by the government from permanent housing to badly needed financial aids like the Emergency Shelter Assistance.
“This despite the multi-billion peso worth of combined donations and government-allotted fundd for Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction. Worse is the Roxas-backed No Build and Dwelling Zone policy which bars urban poor and small fisher folks to go back in their communities in coastal areas, thus depriving them of their livelihood and shelters,” added Hicap.
Hicap said the Liberal Party should pull out the comics and stop its circulation.
He added that Roxas’ camp should apologize to the typhoon survivors for using the tragedy to boost his popularity. (davaotoday.com)
