Zamora tells bashers behind sexist remarks: Get a life

MANILA, Philippines — Public prosecutor and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora has called out people on social media attacking her with sexist and misogynistic remarks, saying that they should “get a life” if they cannot handle her sass and style.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Zamora was asked about online remarks about how she conducted the direct examination of P/Maj. Joericson Sangalang, head of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO), during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Several individuals have accused Zamora of being “flirtatious” and “acting cute” when she did the examination of Sangalang — a matter echoed by several of the vice president’s supporters.

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READ: Ridon: Undeclared firearms new evidence in Duterte impeachment case 

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“You know it’s so unfortunate that a lot of Filipinos still think that way, they still make misogynistic remarks, especially directed towards women, girls, who apparently are smart and can speak well, and can be a lawyer in an impeachment court.  So siguro (maybe), they can’t handle sass, they can’t handle style,” Zamora told reporters during a break in the trial.

“And well, really, I don’t care if they bash me, I’m here to do my job, and let’s see, ‘yon lang.  I mean seriously ‘di ba, they should get a life,” she added.

Prosecution spokesperson and former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that he agrees with Zamora’s belief that these people should get a life — adding that the people criticizing the lawmaker are not even half as good as her in terms of beauty and brains.

“I was about to say that. Get a life […] ’Yong mga nambabash, ano, nakita mo naman ‘yong kanilang mga statement. Ito ay walang sustansya; there’s no substance to this. Yung kanilang ano (arguments) masyadong personal, misogynistic,” Barbers said.

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(I was about to say that, get a life […]  Those who are bashing us, you saw their statements; it has no substance, there’s no substance to this.  Their (arguments) are so personal, misogynistic.)

“At it’s as if naman mas maganda sila kay Cong. Bel — malayong-malayo naman although kung ikukumpara mo.  Pangalawa, kung talino naman ang usapan, nakita niyo naman kung how brilliant our lady lawyer is in this presentation of this witness and in this case.  So you know, I agree when she said that these guys should get a life,” he added.

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(And it’s as if they look better than Cong. Bel — they’re so far off if you would compare them.  And in terms of intelligence, you saw how brilliant our lady lawyer is in this presentation of this witness and in this case.  So you know, I agree when she said that these guys should get a life.)

Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V had a shorter comment about Zamora’s response: “Slay, girl.”

Sangalang was presented on Monday to testify on the market value of the firearms owned by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.  Under Zamora’s questions, Sangalang said that the total market value of the Duterte-Carpio couple’s firearms was P7.2 million — P2.184 million for the vice president, and P5.035 million for Carpio.

However, the defense opposed the prosecution’s line of questioning, arguing that the values presented by Sangalang were market values, not actual acquisition costs—or the amount Duterte needed to buy the firearms.

Eventually, the defense panel decided to forgo cross-examination of Sangalang, noting that Presiding Officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero was able to establish with his questioning that the prices presented were merely market values as of the current year.

READ: Defense skips cross examination of PNP official over VP’s firearms

The matter of the Duterte-Carpio couple’s firearms being related to Article II of the Articles of Impeachment was first raised by public prosecutor and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon last June 16, when he said that they found new evidence for Duterte’s impeachment case.

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Article II covers allegations that Duterte has unexplained wealth and failed to properly disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). /mr