Coleen Garcia clarifies she’s not angry at Duterte: ‘I neither hate nor completely adore’

Image: Instagram/@coleen

Actress Coleen Garcia were among those who trooped to Boracay for its reopening after its six months of rehabilitation. Just like fellow actress Cristine Reyes, Garcia did not think twice to hop on a plane and jet off to check out the changes in the island.

Garcia shared on her Instagram last Oct. 27 a picture of her walking down the world-famous white sand beach in Boracay. Garcia was very much impressed with the beach’s improvements, telling her fans that she is falling in love with Boracay all over again.

“Walked from station 3 to station 1 to see what has changed so far,” she wrote. “I love that the island is noticeably cleaner, and you can walk around and all over the sand without being afraid of stepping on broken glass.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpbN2hBn7Wn/?hl=en&taken-by=coleen

Garcia commended those who were behind the rehabilitation, adding that she cannot wait to return to the island once more.

She also reminded her fans to do their part in taking care of the island, saying, “All the effort put into this would go to waste if we don’t learn to be more conscious of the damage we humans cause on a daily basis. Let’s try to minimize that, not just here, but everywhere we go.”

Garcia’s post garnered more than 250,000 likes since the time of posting, seemingly echoing the sentiments of thousands of fans who came upon her post.

One netizen, however, thought it apt to comment on Garcia’s post and tell her to thank President Rodrigo Duterte for it was because of him why she fell in love with Boracay again, said the commenter.

“Dati galit ka kay [Duterte] pasalamatan mo siya,” wrote a certain Reginald (@reginaldmelchor06). “Kung hindi dahil sa kaniya di ka ulit ma-i-in love sa Boracay ulit.”

Image: Instagram/@coleen

Garcia wasted no time in responding to the netizen, asking how they came to the conclusion that she was angry at President Duterte.

“Paano niyo naman po nasabi na galit ako sa kanya? (How can you say that I am angry at him?)” Garcia asked. “Yes, there are some things that I have questioned and disagreed with, but there are also many things I am grateful for.”

Image: Instagram/@coleen

Garcia added that her sentiments towards Duterte is balanced. “I neither hate nor completely adore, but I do respect,” she clarified. “And I hope you respect my opinions, too.”

Garcia also commended Duterte for his efforts in rehabilitating Boracay, saying, “It’s important to have leaders that care about our environment, because sadly not everyone does.”

It was six months ago when President Duterte ordered Boracay closed and placed it under rehabilitation after tagging it as a cesspool due to its poor sewage system. Today, the president could not be any happier with the results of the island’s rehabilitation.

As per Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo last Oct. 26, during the ceremonial reopening of Boracay, he said that Duterte is very pleased with what has happened in the island.

“It has to take a President Duterte to put things in order,” Panelo said. “[And] we should all learn from all these lessons so that Boracay will become the attraction not only in this country but in the world.” JB

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