Veteran actor Pen Medina called out critics who reacted negatively to his statement that wearing a face mask is not an effective measure against COVID-19.
On Facebook, Medina wrote: "Sa mga bashers re my stand on forced vaccination and masking, lalo na si Prof Contreras, DEBATE TAYO IN PUBLIC tungkol diyan!"
Pen even shared the post of political analyst Antonio P. Contreras who opposed his opinion on use of face mask.
"What utter stupidity. How irresponsibe for this actor."
Medina, 71, was spotted in a protest rally spearheaded by the Gising Maharlika group at the Senate.
The protesters rejected mandatory vaccination and lockdowns.
In a video uploaded by DZBB Super Radyo Sam Nielsen, Medina was asked why he was against the use of face masks during this pandemic.
“Napag-aralan ko na. Kasi po ang face mask malalaki ang hibla niyan, yun pong coronavirus, ang mga virus, maliliit po,” he said. “Kumbaga hindi pa rin ito na identified. Kumbaga sa lineup ng pulis hindi pa na pinpoint kung sino yung kriminal na virus.”
“Ito pong virus na ito, para kang naghahanap sa buhangin, sa isang beach na pagkarami-raming buhangin, at yung buhangin microscopic, di mo siya makikita sa mata mo lang. Kailangan gumamit (ng microscope)… Hindi pa po nila nakikita yan, tas may sinasabi ng variant… At yan po ay lulusot po, kahit na anong mask. Dahil sobrang, sobrang pagkaliit-liit.”
TV host Kiko Rustia said he was disappointed with Medina.
Pen called out Antonio again and said: "ANO NA? ANG YABANG MO SA FB! PUBLIC DEBATE TAYO TUNGKOL SA MANDATORY VACCINATION!"
Then in another post, he wrote: "ANTONIO P. CONTRERAS! ANG TAPANG MO SA FB! 2 DAYS NA ANG HAMON KO SA IYO! PUBLIC DEBATE TAYO TUNGKOL SA SAPILITANG PAGPAPABAKUNA!"