Legendary musician, writer and producer Jim Paredes has come under fire from netizens and other pro-Duterte Filipinos after he allegedly called Mindanaoans “mountain people” or “taga-bundok”.
This account accused the southern Filipinos for not caring about the well-being of their north-based countrymen, should the president decide to expand martial law nationwide.
It can be remembered that on May 24, 2017, 10 PM – President Duterte declared Martial Law over the Mindanao region after reports broke that government forces clashed with the Maute terrorist group at Marawi City.
Duterte made his announcement through presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, while he was at Russia.
The comment allegedly written by the member of the legendary APO Hiking Society is as follows:
“Mga kabataan na lang ba talaga ang hindi nakakalimot sa sinapit ng mga pilipino sa panahon ng martial law? Nakakalungkot isipin dahil yung mga matanda na kung sino payung nakaranas sa hagip ng martial law sila pa yung nanahimik. Tapos yung mga taga-Mindanao na taong bundok sila pa yung gusto na mag martial law dahil alam nila na hindi sila ang malalagay sa alanganin kundi kami taga luzon.”
Netizens were quick to share their scathing criticism over Jim Paredes ’ insensitive comments.
Here are some of the comments made by netizens:
A netizen wrote: “hala grabe sya magsalita kesyo Taga mindanao kami Taga bundok agad proud na taga bundok kami maayos at totoo kaming tao marami pa rin sa amin na taga mindanao ang honest hindi marunong magsinungaling at magnakaw.now compare us sinu ang may maganadang ugali kayo ba…..kami na taga mindanao subok na kmi sa karamihan kahit sa mga dayuhan.toto kaming tao mr. paredes singer.…”
Another netizen wrote: “Kung taong Bundok Taga Mindanao anong tawag Sayo!? Taong bugok!? Wala ka namang maitulong puro paninira mag bigti ka nalang kaya demonyo ka!? Punong puno na kami Sayo bwisit ka!? Di kapa nahimlay animal!?”
However, the singer himself has claimed he was under attack from trolls who used a fake account under his name.
Here’s what Jam Paredes had to say about the comment on his verified Twitter account.
What do you have to say about this story? Do you think the people who saw the ‘taga-bundok’ post allegedly written by the singer took the time to verify if that was his real account? Perhaps you believe that Jim Paredes actually wrote that regionalist comment?