Bela Padilla Slams Cojuangco’s Flood Comment, Brings Up Slater Young’s Cebu Project
BELA PADILLA — The Kapamilya actress publicly called out Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark Cojuangco following his controversial remarks about the widespread flooding in various parts of the country. The issue began when Cojuangco questioned why some Filipino families continue to build homes in flood-prone areas.
The congressman made his comments in response to a viral post on X showing a compilation of areas devastated by Typhoon Tino in Cebu. The video captured heartbreaking scenes of residents trapped on their rooftops, drenched in floodwaters, crying, and pleading for help. The post’s caption expressed frustration over government corruption, stating, “PANGARAP KO LANG TALAGA IS MAMATAY NA LAHAT NG CORRUPT SA PILIPINAS!”
While many sympathized with the flood victims, Cojuangco took a different stance, blaming residents for building homes in unsafe locations. He wrote, “Bakit kasi sa flood plain gumawa ng tirahan? Takaw sakuna. Di mo ba napansin na yung diversion channel ay mas mataas kaysa yung lupa ng tirahan nila? Bakit doon? Ito na yung consequence ng choice na yun.”
His statement sparked outrage, with many netizens calling him “privileged” and insensitive. One user replied, “Hindi nga kasi lahat may choice kagaya mo. Who in their right mind would want to choose to live in a hazardous place. Wala ngang choice diba? They have to settle kung anong pwede. A little compassion and kindness goes a long way, Cong.”
Cojuangco defended his stance, insisting, “No one should. Laging may choice. You should be angry right now. Engineering and sound reasoning gave way to ‘compassion and kindness’ years ago. Kaya nga nangyari ito. Suck it up and learn, or repeat it all over again later. Choice is ours.”
Bela Padilla later reposted Cojuangco’s statement on her own X account, criticizing his lack of empathy. She wrote, “Respectfully, you don’t start giving swimming lessons to a drowning man, sir. You save him first. Why didn’t the LGUs stop them from building there in the first place?”
Padilla also mentioned the ongoing controversy surrounding Slater Young’s Monterrazas de Cebu project, which has been blamed by some for worsening floods in Cebu. She added, “Common folk don’t know where they can or can’t build. I mean—look at Slater Young.”