Tuguegarao City mayor responds after drawing flak for saying animals' lives are 'replaceable' amid Uwan evacuation
Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Ting Que has issued a response after drawing flak on social media for saying the lives of animals are "replaceable" as she urged her constituents to evacuate as Typhoon Uwan hit the country.
In a live video on Nov. 9 before Uwan, which was then considered a super typhoon, made landfall, Que called on people in her city to evacuate before nightfall, as rescuers might not be able to reach them later in the evening.
"Alam ho naming sanay kayo sa baha pero hindi lang ito baha, may hangin, may flood," she said, referring to residents in a small core shelter in barangay Cataggaman Pardo. "Malakas ang ulan, malakas ang hangin. Kailangan umalis kayo before pa tumama ang landfall talaga ng bagyo."
"Guys, 'wag nang matigas ang ulo. Nakikiusap ako. 'Yung gamit ninyo, mapapalitan. 'Yung animals, mapapalitan. 'Yung buhay ninyo isa lang. Hindi mapapalitan. Ganun lang ka-simple lang," she continued toward the end of the video, adding that Tuguegarao was experiencing heavy rains.
Uwan made landfall on Sunday at 9:10 p.m. in Aurora province.
'Animals are not things'
Que's remarks earned mixed reactions as they made the rounds on social media.
Non-government organization Animal Kingdom Foundation also slammed the mayor's pronouncements. "Animals are not things. They are not replaceable possessions. They are living, feeling beings who form bonds, experience emotions, and enrich our lives, help and provide even for humans in ways no object ever could," it said in a statement on Nov. 11.
It added that leaders should promote empathy, "not diminish it."
"Valuing compassion for animals strengthens our humanity—it doesn't take away from it. Leadership means compassion, not convenience."
Lestre Zepanta, a dog behavior expert and "Pinoy Dog Whisperer," echoed the NGO's sentiments, pointing to videos of Filipinos losing their carabaos and pigs to flooding.
"Hindi mo alam na importante para sa'min ang mga hayop na 'to.. Minsan, hindi ulo 'yung matigas. Matigas 'yung puso nila dahil pinaglalaban nila 'yung pinaghirapan nila dahil alam nilang 'yun na lang ang meron sila. These are voiceless, helpless animals that you are asking the owners to leave behind," he said.
"Walang ibang magsasalba sa kanila kundi 'yung mga tao nagmamahal sa mga animals na sinasabi mong madaling palitan."
For its part, animal welfare non-profit Pawssion Project kept its opinion on the matter short. "Can't even say with all due respect because you lost our respect," it wrote.
On the other hand, there were users who came to the mayor's defense.
"[This] statement came from a mayor whose first duty is to safeguard human lives," one user in the comments of News5's report on the matter read.
"Mayor Maila’s point wasn’t to devalue animals, but to stress that no life should be lost because someone hesitated to seek safety. Pets are precious to us, yes—but people’s lives come first in disaster response. And once everyone is safe, we can always extend help for animals as well," they continued.
Another user shared the same sentiment, writing, "It's not that she (Que) doesn't care about animals[,] it's about protecting both people and rescuers from greater danger."
"It's just unfortunate that many on social media struggle to comprehend this..." another chimed in. "They don't understand the heavy burden of leadership—the agonizing decisions where you must sacrifice some to save many."
Que responds
Amid the backlash, Que issued her response on Nov. 11, stating that Tuguegarao City experienced flooding due to Uwan.
"Under the law, sa disaster management, R.A. 10121, my priority is to save human lives as we are doing now," she said.
Under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office—which is under the office of the governor or mayor—is tasked to mobilize and utilize their facilities and resources for the "protection and preservation of life and properties during emergencies" in accordance with existing policies and procedures, among others.
Later on in the video, she said that people should bring their pets with them when they evacuate. This came as she claimed four people called for rescue after they didn't evacuate because they allegedly didn't want to leave behind their pigs.
"'Pag sinabi naming umalis na kayo, isama na ninyo ang mga alaga ninyo. Nang ayaw ninyong isama nabaha kayo, tatawag kayo ng rescue. At this point in time, dapat ang pinupuntahan namin, mga tao. Ang naaabutan namin, mga alagang baboy," she said. "I'm so frustrated."
"I will not say sorry for loving my children in Tuguegarao and saving their lives and the lives of our rescuers."
According to Que, 44 barangays in Tuguegarao City are flooded, with 3,690 families affected. She emphasized that the city is "heavily" affected, not devastated "yet."
The Office of Civil Defense said on Tuesday that 18 people have died due to Typhoon Uwan, which came days after Typhoon Tino rampaged through Visayas and killed 213.
Uwan has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility, but it's likely to re-enter again on Nov. 12.
