A vlogger has allegedly tagged Kapamilya star Liza Soberano a member of an outlawed group after she delivered a speech at an event organized by the youth arm of the women’s rights group Gabriela.
"Kapamilya actress Liza Soberano joins Gabriela Youth, a front of the Communists!" read the caption for an episode of Maui Vega YouTube Channel streamed on Wednesday night. Its episode is entitled "LIZA SOBERANO, MIYEMBRO NA NG NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY?"
Some of the remarks from netizens:
"This is red tagging, praying she'll sue you. What a shame from some dim witted person."
"Vlog now. Himas rehas later! Good luck! Mabigat bigat Ang kasong cyber libel. Walang proof na sumali sa NPA. Red tag pa more! Akalain mo Yun mauuna ka pa sa presinto kesa kay Liza HA HA HA HA."
"ur video can be considered fake news as it doesn't show any proofs and all of ur statements are just beliefs of what society has built onto this matter. someone can sue you for cyber libel and spreading of no proof allegations. hindi ko alam bat pinaniniwalaan ng mga tao ang nga argumento mong wala namang kredebilidad."
"Red tagging ito. Good luck kung makasuhan ka."
"Mag-aral ka muna ng mabuti para malaman mo ano pinagkaiba ng aktibista at terorista. Red-tagger ka ghorl."
In her speech, Soberano spoke about the “tragedies and hardships happening not only to women and children, but to a lot of people in general.”
“I know that I haven’t been the most vocal about my opinions and about the advocacies that I feel very strong for, because I was always afraid that I would be dividing my supporters. I was afraid of creating conflict. Ang paniniwala ko po dati na pag artista ka, dapat umiiwas ka sa lahat ng issues. Dapat we just keep talking about our craft, and the next movie we’re making and everything. Kasi, I was afraid that people would judge me. They would say, what do I know, I’m just a girl, I’m just an actress,” Soberano said.
She then recalled the abuse she experienced from a netizen not so long ago.
“But then I realized, especially, most recently when there was someone who made a sexual abuse comment towards me… I realized the impact of me standing up for myself, especially after I filed a criminal case against somebody who made a rape joke against me,” she added.
“Sorry, I get kind of emotional… Because I’ve had the experience — not firsthand experience. I’m actually privileged and blessed to have… I’m getting so emotional. Sorry.”
“I fear that my nieces and future children won’t be able to go out into a safe environment. That’s why I find it so important to start spreading awareness to the future generations, as early as now, so that we can create a better future for everyone,” she said. “The norm of society has conditioned women and children to stay quiet when dealing with hardships and struggles because nobody is going to do anything anyway. Yet why do they also expect us women and children, to remain resilient through these struggles?” Soberano said.