DOT exec under fire for post claiming she prioritized helping friend in Japan over nat'l meeting

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:00 p.m.) — Tourism Undersecretary for legal and special concerns Mae Elaine Bathan, also the chief of staff of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, drew criticisms following her Facebook post where she allegedly prioritized helping a friend in Japan while in a meeting about national concerns.

About the viral public Facebook post

In a viral public Facebook post being shared by netizens across social media platforms, Bathan shared a screenshot of her supposed conversation with her best friend Regal Oliva, also the Mandaue City Treasurer lawyer. Bathan shared that Oliva sought her assistance as the latter “needed help on Google Translate” that prompted her to stop her meeting about a national issue.

“When your bestfriend calls you because she needed help on Google Translate so she can eat and thrive in Japan, all else will have to stop. Even if it’s about the airport takeover and privatization,” Bathan’s caption read. She also tagged Oliva in her post with the screenshot of their conversation.

Oliva also took to Facebook to share her account while in Japan, captioning it as “True Story.”

She said that she cannot find an English menu in Japan while craving Japanese cuisine so she called her “bestie,” Bathan.

“She was in a middle of a very important meeting that concerns a sensitive national issue,” Oliva wrote, and then attaching a transcript of their conversation where she is supposedly asking Bathan to teach her how to use Google Translate.

Bathan allegedly replied: “Maaaa, you don’t know what meeting I had to stop for this, but ok…,” Oliva wrote, recounting that her best friend gave instructions.

The Department of Tourism official was also quoted as saying “Hahaha – feeding you in Japan is more important that matters of national concern Ma.”

Demand for explanation

The screenshot of these two Facebook posts circulated on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and garnered negative reactions from online users. The two has verified Facebook accounts.

They called for explanation about the DOT official’s move to consider feeding her friend in Japan “more important that matters of national concern.”

“Atty. Elaine Tantengco Bathan and Atty. Regal Oliva can you please explain to us why feeding a friend in Japan is more important than matters of national concern?” writer EB Jugalbot wrote.

“Even if it was a joke between the two of you, since you are also lawyers of significant professional experience, was there ever a need for you both to post that conversation on your respective Facebook walls?” he added.

Others called out the “alarming level of entitlement in this administration,” citing the misuse of taxpayers' money by officials.

The posts by Bathan and Oliva are no longer accessible online. However, several online users are circulating screenshots of these posts.

'Post had been taken out of context'

Meanwhile, Oliva in a separate Facebook post on Thursday said that her previous post “had been taken out of context.”

“My previous post had been taken out of context, primarily because I exaggerated parts of my conversation with a friend. I have been receiving several advices to just take it down as people who do not know the friendship I share with Usec Elaine Bathan is always exaggerated. Because that is how we are,” Oliva said, stressing that she is lucky to have a friend in Bathan.

“It was a lapse of judgment that tarnished the integrity of one of the most hardworking, dedicated, and upstanding leaders and persons I know,” Oliva said.

Oliva also apologized for posting her experience in Japan.

“Apologies to those whose sensibilities I may have caused to erupt. Maybe my true-to-life experience of having the most difficult time in Japan led me to desperately seek help, but sorry. (crying emoji) for Elaine will always come on top of mind when it comes to ‘call a friend,’” Oliva said.

'I should be more mindful'

On Friday afternoon, Bathan issued a statement acknowledging that she should be more mindful of her social media activity, stressing that her social media activity “never intends to disrespect the office she represents, her colleagues and the purpose of her work.”

“I understand that my previous post has caused different reactions, some negative, which I regret, as it is taking away attention from more serious matters that we have been working tirelessly on,” the DOT undersecretary said. 

“I acknowledge that as a public servant, I should be more mindful of how and what I share, especially in public to not cause any confusion,” she also said.

The DOT official also apologized to Frasco, her colleagues and the public following the post.

In July last year, Bathan served as the officer-in-charge of the DOT while Frasco was on a family leave.