Death of mother who waited 5 days for bus decried by Filipino celebs: ‘Napakamura ng buhay ng mahirap’

By: Ian Biong - 4 years ago
Michelle Silvertino

Agot Isidro (left), Juan Miguel Severo (center) and Jim Paredes (right). Image: Instagram/@agotisidro, Nukie Timtiman, Facebook/@jimparedes

Celebrities are joining calls to bring justice for a mother who died stranded along EDSA, waiting for five days for a bus ride home to her family in Camarines Sur.

As “#JusticeforMichelleSilvertino” trends on Twitter, several of the country’s entertainers, along with netizens, have called out the government for what they refer to as its incompetence which led to the mother’s untimely death.

Actress Agot Isidro, a staunch critic of the current administration, lamented how Silvertino was left for dead and urged the public to speak up on such issues.

“Napakamura at napakaliit ng buhay ng mahihirap ngayon (The lives of the poor are considered cheap and small now),” Isidro posted on Twitter yesterday, June 10.

“Nakakatulog pa ba kayo nang maayos? Nakakakain pa ba kayo nang hindi ito iniisip? Pilipinas, hindi pa ba kayo galit?” she added.

(Can you still sleep soundly? Can you still eat without thinking of this? Philippines, are you still not angry?)

Silvertino, 33, was escorted by Pasay police officers on the night of June 4 to a barangay hall for treatment, but no one was present at the time. She was then taken to a police precinct to let her rest, but upon validation, she was found to have COVID-19 symptoms. Police took her back to the barangay hall.

The mother allegedly claimed that she was OK, so police returned her to the bridge, according to Police Lt. Col. Deanry Francisco, assistant Pasay police chief.

At about 4:30 a.m. on June 5, she was found unconscious at the footbridge in Pasay City. Police said that a concerned citizen reported Silvertino’s case, who was then having difficulty in breathing and a high fever, to the Malibay substation.

After being found by local authorities, she was taken to the Pasay City General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival on the same day.

Actor-poet Juan Miguel Severo also took to Twitter yesterday to share his sentiments, saying: “JUSTICE FOR MICHELLE SILVERTINO.”

“Today Michelle Silvertino and taxing online selling (while allowing POGOs to get away with it). On a daily basis, this government demonstrates its callousness and insensitivity,” veteran actor-director Bart Guingona meanwhile pointed out via Twitter earlier today, June 11.

Fellow director Antoinette Jadaone likewise lamented Silvertino’s death and urged the public to never get tired of speaking out.

“Bawat umaga na lang, may bagong pasabog na ipaglalaban ka bilang Pilipino, ‘no? Nakakapagod na magalit pero huwag mapapagod. #JUSTICEFORMICHELLESILVERTINO,” she said on Twitter yesterday.

(Every morning, there is just this new thing that you need to fight for as a Filipino. It is tiring to get mad anymore, but do not ever get tired. #JUSTICEFORMICHELLESILVERTINO.)

Actress Alessandra de Rossi meanwhile replied to Jadaone’s tweet to express her sorrow over the news, posting, “Ano ba to (crying face, praying hands, distressed emojis)” on the same day.

“Ang sakit basahin (It hurts to read this),” singer-songwriter Jim Paredes likewise lamented Silvertino’s death through Twitter yesterday, replying to a news report.

Silvertino is survived by her four young children, aged 3 to 11, whom she was supposed to come home to after their father abandoned them. She is now buried at a public cemetery in Pasay. JB

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