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Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Ting Que has refused to apologize after drawing backlash from animal welfare advocates and netizens for saying that animals and household belongings are “replaceable,” emphasizing that saving human lives must take priority during disasters.
The controversy began when Que made a public appeal via Facebook Live on November 9, urging residents in Barangay Cataggaman Pardo to evacuate as Typhoon Uwan—then a super typhoon—approached northern Luzon.
“Alam ho naming sanay kayo sa baha pero hindi lang ito baha, may hangin, may flood,” she said, referring to residents reluctant to leave their homes. “Malakas ang ulan, malakas ang hangin. Kailangan umalis kayo before pa tumama ang landfall talaga ng bagyo.”
Que further pleaded: “Guys, ‘wag nang matigas ang ulo. Nakikiusap ako. ‘Yong gamit ninyo, mapapalitan. ‘Yong animals, mapapalitan. Pero ang buhay ng tao, isa lang.”
The remarks quickly went viral, sparking outrage among animal lovers and welfare groups who accused the mayor of being insensitive toward animals’ lives.
Animal Kingdom Foundation issued a strong rebuke: “Animals are not things. They are not replaceable possessions. They are living, feeling beings who form bonds, experience emotions, and enrich our lives, help and provide even for humans in ways no object ever could.”
The group added that true leadership “means compassion, not convenience,” and urged public officials to promote empathy instead of diminishing it.
Dog behavior expert Lestre Zepanta, also known as the “Pinoy Dog Whisperer,” joined the criticism, saying: “Hindi mo alam na importante para sa’min ang mga hayop na ’to… These are voiceless, helpless animals that you are asking the owners to leave behind. Walang ibang magsasalba sa kanila kundi ’yung mga tao nagmamahal sa mga animals na sinasabi mong madaling palitan.”
Animal rescue group Pawssion Project was even more direct, posting: “Can’t even say with all due respect because you lost our respect.”
Despite the backlash, Que stood by her statement in another Facebook Live on November 11, saying she would not apologize for prioritizing human lives.
“I will not say sorry for loving my children in Tuguegarao and for saving their lives as well as the lives of our rescuers,” Que said emotionally.
“Nasubukan n’yo na ba makaramdam ng guilt na may namatay dahil hindi na-force evacuate ‘yong tao? Nasubukan n’yo na rin ba mag-utos ng rescuer na pumunta kahit gabing-gabi na at i-risk ang buhay nila para lang tumulong sa taong hindi nakinig sa advisory dahil hindi maiwan ang alaga nila?” she asked.
According to the mayor, some residents who went back to their homes amid the storm to save their livestock were later found dead. “Sinong nag-aalaga ng kambing ngayon? Kung ’yong kambing niya ang nalunod, masakit man pakinggan, puwede akong tumulong para bilhan siya ng panibagong kambing na gagamitin niya sa farm niya,” Que said.
She also cited an incident where three residents requested rescue operations but refused to leave their pigs behind. “’Pag sinabi naming umalis na kayo, isama na ninyo ang mga alaga ninyo. Nang ayaw ninyong isama, nabaha kayo, tatawag kayo ng rescue. At this point in time, dapat ang pinupuntahan namin ay mga tao. Ang naaabutan namin, mga alagang baboy,” she said.
Visibly frustrated, Que added: “Nakakaiyak po kayo sa totoo lang. I’m so frustrated kasi ginagawa ninyong nakakatawa ang pag-save ng tao. You just endangered our rescuers.”
Que later clarified that her remarks were meant to emphasize the urgency of preemptive evacuation. “Under the law, sa disaster management, R.A. 10121, my priority is to save human lives as we are doing now,” she said, citing the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
As of November 11, Que reported that 44 barangays in Tuguegarao were flooded, affecting 3,690 families. “We are heavily affected,” she said, “but not devastated yet.”
The Office of Civil Defense reported at least 18 fatalities nationwide due to Typhoon Uwan, which struck days after Typhoon Tino left 213 people dead across the Visayas.
Although Uwan exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, authorities warned that it could re-enter by November 12.
Despite the online furor, Que’s stance remains unchanged: “I will not say sorry for saving lives.”
