Netizens had a good laugh after Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla and Laguna governor Ramil Hernandez sent open letters to each other amid the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in their respective provinces.
Laguna was placed under “total lockdown” on Saturday, March 28, after the number of COVID-19 cases in the province rose to at least 23.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, March 29, Remulla addressed an open letter to Hernandez after he wasn’t allowed to pass through a checkpoint due to the imposed lockdown.
“Ganyanan na ha. Dehins ako pinalusot ng checkpoint mula Bgy. Inchikan, Silang, papunta Nuvali. ‘Bawal daw’ sabi ng hepe mo. Bali wala werpa ko sa checkpoint mo,” he said.
He then “threatened” Laguna with a display of the traits of the Caviteños: “Tandaan mo na likas ang yabang at tapang naming mga kabitenyo. Ang mga taga Laguna mga maka-Dyos. Tignan mo pangalan ng mga bayan mo: San Pedro; Santa Cruz; Sta Rosa. Kami dito: General Trias; General Aguinaldo; General Mariano Alvarez. Nilikha kami sa digmaan.”
He added that should Hernandez dare to cross SLEX going to Manila, he would set up a checkpoint of his own for him to know the struggles of his kababayans.
“Huwag ko ng marinig na tatawid ka ng SLEX papuntang Maynila. Magtatayo ako ng checkpoint sa Carmona para di ka makatawid. Umikot ka ng Rizal ngayon para maramdaman mo ang nararamdaman ng mga kababayan ko.”
In the end, Remulla clarified that it was only a joke and that “even governors observe quarantine procedures. Dapat lahat tayo.”
Hernandez, on the other hand, didn’t let the open letter pass without a response.
He took aim at the Cavite governor for always declaring class suspensions ahead of him.
“Kapag may ulan o bagyo lagi mo akong inuunahan magdeklara ng walang pasok. kaya lagi akong naba-bash ng mga masisipag pumasok dine sa amin kahit mahina naman ang ulan dito sa Laguna,” he wrote.
Hernandez said that him implementing the lockdown first is just for the good of his people.
“Ngayon, wag mo naman sanang masamain na ako naman ang nauna na nagdeklara ng Total Lockdown. Panalangin naming mga taga Laguna ang kaligtasan nating lahat,” he said.
Hernandez also had something to say on the comparisons being made about their looks: “Kung papogian naman ang usapan mas matangkad ka lang sa akin pero tao na magsabi kung kaninong gobernador ang mas pogi ?.”
He ended his letter thanking Remulla for the understanding and stressing that it was also a joke.
He added, “Kaya kayong mga Kapitan at mga mayor huwag kayong mag-aaway kapag may nag-lockdown na barangay, bayan o syudad. Mag-unawaan tayo.”
