MANILA, Philippines – Musician Paolo Valenciano, Gab Valenciano's brother, defended Gab from social media bashers on Thursday, December 10.
On December 10, Paolo released a series of tweets saying that Gab was receiving death threats for expressing his opinion on presidential aspirant and Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Some people from Davao, he said, even wished that Gab's wife, Tricia Centenera, would be harmed. (READ: Gab Valenciano speaks up on Duterte, responds to bashers)
"I like Duterte. He isn't my first choice, but I'd rather him than most candidates. I'm hoping SOME of his supporters would show more respect," Paolo finished.
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My bro is getting death threats because he does not like Duterte. Ganun ? Iba opinion niya so death threat agad agad ?</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/674780487290761216">December 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have very good history with Davao. I consider it one of my top 3 provinces. But I read some davaoeños saying "sana ma rape asawa mo" ...</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/674781515474046976">December 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I like Duterte.He isn't my 1st choice,bt I'd rather him than most candidates.I'm hoping SOME of his supporters would show more respect.</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/674784432868356098">December 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
Some people on Twitter then reacted to him calling out the people of Davao in particular.
Paolo clarified that he didn't mean all Davaeños, and added that he was sure that these people sending threats were from Davao.
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="es" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> SOME davaoeños .</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/674797554224070656">December 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ArnelieCruz">@ArnelieCruz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> yes sure po .</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/675059749285703680">December 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
He then clarified, saying, "If something is wrong, then it's wrong. Doesn't matter where you're from. Death threats should be taken seriously."
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> ... But if something is wrong , then it's wrong . Doesn't matter where you're from . Death threats should be taken seriously</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/675064328987533312">December 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
After a few hours, Paolo posted a series of responses, following a comment that told him to tell Gab that "respect is given to those who deserve to be respected."
Together, Paolo's tweets read, "My only issue is the unwarranted threats and cyber bullying that he (Gab) is receiving. He can post whatever he wants and you can bash him for it. But shouldn't there be a line somewhere? I thought all of Duterte's supporters want peace. We all want peace din naman (too). Pero parang ang daming war freak (But it's like there are so many war freaks).
"Like right now, people posted na sana ma-rape sister-in-law ko (that they hope my sister-in-law gets raped). Tapos daming nag-tweet na kami-kami lang gumagawa (And so many tweeted that we just made it all up). Again, I love Davao, kaya medyo nakaka-heartbreak (which is why it's kind of heartbreaking). I don't share my brother's opinions but I must stand up for my family."
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ArnelieCruz">@ArnelieCruz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> you both seem like decent ppl. Again, my only issue is the unwarranted threats and cyber bullying that he is receiving</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/675153969711312896">December 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ArnelieCruz">@ArnelieCruz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> he can post whatever he wants and you can bash him for it .. But shouldn't there be a line somewhere ?</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/675154133599567874">December 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ArnelieCruz">@ArnelieCruz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> I thought all of dutertes supporters want peace. We all want peace din naman. Pero parang andameng war freak :(</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/675154598458466304">December 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ArnelieCruz">@ArnelieCruz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> like right now .. Ppl posted na sana ma rape sis in law ko. Tapos dameng nag tweet na kame kame Lang gumagawa</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/675154846379585539">December 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ArnelieCruz">@ArnelieCruz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/brix99">@brix99</a> again, I love Davao Kaya medyo nakaka heartbreak . I don't share my bros opinions but I must stand up for my family</p>— Paolo Valenciano (@paolovalenciano) <a href="https://twitter.com/paolovalenciano/status/675155994863919106">December 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
Paolo's defense of Gab on Twitter come after Gab aired his views on Duterte on December 7. In a Facebook post, Gab said that while he supports Duterte's honesty, he "cannot support his morality." (READ: Gab Valenciano speaks up on Duterte, responds to bashers)
After responding to some comments on his first post, Gab released another Facebook post on December 9, expressing disappointment in some of the comments he received. "I woke up today with a barrage of messages over all my social media accounts, attacking not just my personal opinion, but my humanity as well," he wrote.
Gab's posts and comments were reactions to the tough-talking Davao City mayor's comments on women and crime. Duterte previously admitted that he has two wives and two girlfriends. (READ: Rodrigo Duterte: Yes, I'm a womanizer)
He also told Rappler's Maria Ressa in a previous interview that "If I have to kill you, I’ll kill you," with regard to stopping criminality. (READ: Duterte, his 6 contradictions and planned dictatorship)
Meanwhile, Gab posted a meme on his Facebook page on December 9, that read, "Haters gonna hate." In the photo's caption, Gab said, "This is exactly how I feel, right about, now."
{source}<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/gabvalenciano88/posts/470947496426998" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/gabvalenciano88/posts/470947496426998"><p>To the people who know me, this is exactly how I feel, right about, now. A little more colorful maybe. But you get the point. #flylikearooster</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gabvalenciano88">Gabriel Valenciano</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gabvalenciano88/posts/470947496426998">Wednesday, 9 December 2015</a></blockquote></div></div>{/source}
Paolo and Gab are the sons of singer Gary Valenciano and veteran talent manager Angeli Pangilinan Valenciano. Paolo is a musician, and an events and concert director, while Gab is a musician and multimedia artist.
– Rappler.com