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Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque drew flak from ABS-CBN personalities for claiming that the network did not ‘help enough’ during the pandemic.
In an ANC Headstart interview, Roque was asked by host Karen Davila whether President Rodrigo Duterte remains neutral amidst the latter’s statement on oligarchs in the country.
Roque then affirmed that Duterte is neutral “because the Lopezes are still up and about.”
However, Roque then compared the Lopezes to other oligarchs in the country and said that the difference is that the Ayalas and Manny Pangilinan aided during the pandemic.
“The difference is they [Ayalas, MVP] delivered in time of crisis. Hindi ko naman maintindihan kasi why ABS-CBN did not do that.” he said.
“I know you donated P200 million of your own money but the rest you raised from your TV programs through your calls for donation but these 2 companies did it on their own. I do not know why ABS-CBN could not have done more like what the Ayalas and the MVPs did,” he added.
This statement from Roque has drawn criticisms from ABS-CBN personalities.
News reporter Bianca Dava said that it is the government’s responsibility to provide relief during the pandemic.
This is the government’s responsibility. You should be asking this to yourself, sir. 🙄 https://t.co/JDGB0N7Hhg
— Bianca Dava 🐱 (@biancadava) July 15, 2020
Producer and writer Nick Villavecer also emphasized that ABS-CBN through Sagip Kapamilya helped thousands of Filipinos during the pandemic and also received donations through the Pantawid ng Pag-ibig.
https://twitter.com/nickvillavecer/status/1283258562219667456
Villavecer also sarcastically said that ABS-CBN was shut down because the latter ‘did not help enough’.
https://twitter.com/nickvillavecer/status/1283283487265394688?s=20
. . . https://t.co/UMqEG5my1j
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) July 15, 2020
Ikaw na ang nagbigay hindi pa din sapat? ikaw ba anong ginawa bukod sa magsinungaling at lokohin kami sa mga patawa mo? imbes na pasalamat talaga namang may statement kapadin. Tama na. Sobra na. pic.twitter.com/rvIew5yEE4
— DJ Jhaiho (@mor1019jhaiho) July 15, 2020
Umutang ng sandamakmak na pera tapos hinahanapan ng dagdag na ambag ang pribadong sektor? Where is the accountability, sir? Nawawala yata hanggang ngayon.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) July 15, 2020
In response to the crisis, ABS-CBN launched the Pantawid ng Pag-ibig, a fundraising initiative to aid in the needs of poor families greatly affected by the pandemic.
If ABS-CBN was not shut down, it could have helped more people who are immensely affected by the crisis.
