Dawn Chang hits Mary Joy Santiago for boasting of hiring HPG as escort

Dawn Chang (right) and Mary joy Santiago (left). Images: Instagram/@thedawnchang, @mrysntgo

“Pinoy Big Brother” alum Dawn Chang weighed in on Viva artist and vlogger Mary Joy Santiago’s post that her husband was able to acquire the services of the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to get through traffic made rounds on social media.

Santiago’s viral post on Thursday, June 6, showed her thanking her husband, who she has not identified, for hiring an “HPG escort” to help her brave the traffic. The video also showed Santiago, who signed with Viva in January 2023, seemingly riding a vehicle while she’s being escorted by a man bearing an “HPG” uniform.

“How can I settle for less when my husband hired a HPG ESCORT para lang hindi ako matraffic sa pupuntahan ko (so I wouldn’t be caught in a traffic jam),” wrote Santiago.

So this woman flexed on her stories about how her husband “hired” the Highway Patrol Group or HPG para d daw sya ma stuck sa traffic.

Pede pala yon?! pic.twitter.com/qvst6t7P2b

— V 🏳️‍🌈 #StopPoliceBrutalityPH (@the_pearl_lover) June 6, 2024

Santiago’s post has been deleted but was reuploaded on social media. It also attracted the attention of netizens, including Chang, with many calling Santiago out for “abuse of power.”

On X (formerly Twitter), Chang said Santiago seeing her husband’s gesture as a “green flag” is a “recipe for disaster.”

“Abuse of power, tolerating wrongdoing, and seeing it as a privilege and a green flag — a recipe for disaster,” she wrote.

Abuse of power, tolerating wrongdoing, and seeing it as a privilege and a green flag – a recipe for disaster. https://t.co/ndV6shxlkg

— Dawn Chang (@thedawnchang) June 7, 2024

Despite the backlash, the HPG said in the comments of a Facebook post that it doesn’t accept “for hire” inquiries.

“Good morning sir/ma’am for info hindi ‘for hire’ ang HPG if you have complaint about our personnel don’t hesitate to go our office we much appreciate your help thank you,” its official Facebook page wrote.

Image: Screengrab from Facebook/Carbrazzer

In a June 8 report, an HPG representative said the now-viral incident was being investigated by authorities, saying “involvement in, or endorsement of escort-for-hire services” will not be tolerated.

“Such activities are strictly against our existing protocols and regulations… We assure the public that a thorough and transparent investigation process is underway maintaining the rule of law,” it said.

Santiago has yet to issue a statement, as of press time. But she was seen posting a photo of herself wiping her face with a $100 dollar bill and sharing a clip with a caption, “f***ing gossip.”

Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@mrysntgo

Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@mrysntgo

Santiago was previously accused of being the third party in McCoy de Leon and Elisse Joson’s past split.