BY NEIL RAMOS
Amid allegation of cheating following her win as Miss Universe Philippines 2020, Rabiya Mateo maintained she would rather keep her focus and fulfill her duties the best way she can.
The Illonga beauty is obviously not that eager to address the controversy as ignited by losing candidate, Sandra Lemonon.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News’ Dyan Castillejo on Monday, Mateo reiterated she won the sash and crown “fair and square.”
“Baka ‘yung iba they have doubts about my capability, and hindi natin ‘yun maiiwasan. But I know that I played the game fair and square,” she said.
“Ngayon po mas iniisip ko na lang na may laban pa akong papasukin, at ipu-prove ko na lang po ‘yung self ko sa mga tao… Papatunayan ko na lang po na hindi po ako ‘yung ganoong tao na dini-describe nila.”
In a separate interview with MJ Marfori of TV5 on Sunday, Mateo tried to hold back tears responding to accusations that she already knew the question she was going to be asked during the final round of the pageant.
She said, “They’re questioning my capability as a person, as a candidate… ‘yung mga nagsasabi na the question was given to me that’s why I answered that way, it wasn’t given po sa akin. I did everything that I could because I want to make Iloilo City proud.”
