Team DailyPedia
Film producer and Angel Locsin’s husband Neil Arce came to the defense of influencer-actress Gela Alonte, who has been swept into public scrutiny as netizens call out the children of political families allegedly flaunting their wealth online.
On Saturday, Aug. 30, Arce took to Instagram to clarify that while he has always been vocal against corruption, he believes Gela should not be lumped with those being criticized.
“History would prove that I would be 100% supportive of bashing the corrupt. But not Gela Alonte,” Arce wrote.
“I have seen her work hard for what she has, and I have never seen a glimpse of brattiness or privilege when I work with her. Let’s continue calling people out, but let’s also make sure we call out the right ones,” he added.
Gela, daughter of Biñan City Mayor Angelo “Gel” Belizario Alonte, rose to fame as a lifestyle content creator before venturing into acting. She currently stars in the digital series ‘The Four Bad Boys and Me’, alongside Anji Salvacion, Gelo Rivero, Harvey Bautista, and River Joseph.
Her name resurfaced in the online conversation after a 2024 TikTok live re-emerged, where she laughed nervously when asked about political dynasties.
“Paano ba iyan, nasa political dynasty iyong pamilya ko? I mean, controversial,” she said at the time.
The clip sparked backlash, with netizens interpreting her response as dismissive. But Gela has since expressed regret in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) last July 28.
“I didn’t laugh out of pride or arrogance; it was a nervous response to a question I knew would be met with criticism no matter how I answered. That was my mistake, and I take accountability for how I handled that moment,” she wrote.
She added, “Nobody is perfect, yet so many of you act like you’ve never made any mistakes in your life just because they aren’t publicized. It’s not fair to use others’ mistakes against them when you can call them out properly and give them a chance to grow and learn.”
Gela’s situation comes amid a broader wave of criticism toward the so-called “nepo babies”—children of politicians and contractors linked to alleged anomalous flood control projects. Several of them have been slammed for posting designer bags, luxury cars, and lavish vacations at a time when Filipinos continue to endure flooding and economic struggles.
