Mabatid: I can’t reveal ‘ungo’ for safety reasons

CEBU, Philippines —  Concerned with her and her family’s safety, Cebu City Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid said she cannot just easily identify the “ungo” or monster/witch at the City Hall, who has been allegedly imposing his/her way on the city affairs.

“How I wish I can just easily disclose that person, but you have to consider nga my life is at risk as well... Kay dili baya ni binuang ang akoang gipagawas nga istorya kabahin sa City Hall,” Mabatid said in an interview on the online show The Freeman Conversations.

“And, I think of my kids nga what if kanang something will happen to me. Naa pa baya ko'y 19-year-old nga anak and kinahanglanon pa kaayo ko sa akong mga anak, like it's not worth risking my life,” she added.

Mabatid said many are already telling her to be extra-careful after she aired her gripe over what she said was City Hall’s act of dictating on the councilors, which she branded as disrespectful to her being an elected official.

For the councilor, disclosing the identity of the person she was referring to as “ungo” may entail consequences such as being kicked out of the Barug PDP-Laban or not being allowed to run for a position in the 2022 elections.

She said she is okay with it.

However, she added that such act would be too risky for her and her family and reiterated that “it’s not worth it.”

Mabatid said she has been at the receiving end of character assassination comments on social media, although there are, thankfully, no threats to her life.

“But it is very possible, especially nga they are in power now... It's a public knowledge nga kung inyo ang administration and you have the police power, anything can happen,” she said.

In a scathing post to her Facebook page, the councilor from North District decried last week the presence of a figurative “ungo”, who allegedly dictates on the City Hall affairs.

She did not name any person in her post, but it included a picture with the words “Cebu City is a big mess.”

Mabatid said the day she posted about it, she was at the peak of her anger, disappointment, and frustration as she felt like she is not being heard even as a councilor.

She said she has been offering to help, to provide inputs she believes would help the administration, especially with the COVID-19 situation, but “they’re so afraid to let me in.”

Mabatid said their group had a meeting Thursday and is already trying to fix the problem.

“Ako ra gyud gisulti nila is let’s fix the problem by treating me right. Respetohan ko isip konsehal... Feel nako nga mura gani'g gidaog-daog lang ko, murag giyatakan ang akong pagkatawo, wa gitagaa'g dignidad ang akong pagkakonsehal,” said Mabatid.

“The way to fix this problem is ayaw ko ninyo babagi sa akong mga programa, sa akong mga projects cause I want to perform. I want to have an accomplishment,” she said.

When asked why she used the term “ungo” to describe that person who she claims supposedly controlling the City Hall operations, Mabatid answered: “I chose the word ‘ungo’. Well, sorry to say, but physically he looks like one and not only that, kung moingon man gud ta’g naay ungo, diba ang mga tawo, managan, mahadlok and everyone is afraid of him sa City Hall. Diba ang ungo mokalit og tunga, mokalit og kawagtang?”

“Mao na nga ako gyung ma-describe niya nga ungo gyud siya like everyone is afraid, everyone is a puppet kay mahadlok motingog kay kung motingog ka, kontrahan ka. So, para nako mao ju'y pinaka-best description niya.”

Mabatid believes that if the so-called “ungo” would be removed at the City Hall, and elected officials will be allowed to help run the administration, things will still be fixed. — JMD (FREEMAN)