The GMA Network program “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” has issued a statement regarding “Bea,” a girl it featured on the show who stole money to buy K-pop merchandise worth more than P2 million.
K-pop fans have criticized “KMJS” for the episode, which showed Bea accumulating the K-pop merchandise including albums and photo cards through money she stole from her grandma, who sells plastic products at a public market in Quezon City.
Some netizens doubted the story, saying Bea’s family is not poor. They also said the episode put K-pop fans at risk at it showed one photo card costing P50,000.
K-pop fan “Bea” (right, middle photo) and her aunt (Screenshots from “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho”)
The family of Bea is now selling the various K-pop items to recoup the P2 million she spent for the goods.
Screenshot from “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho”
Here is the statement of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” issued on March 7:
“Nakarating sa aming kaalaman ang tungkol sa isang online post na nagsasabing may nahablutan ng K-Pop merchandise sa MRT-Cubao. Inuugnay ito ng ilan na diumano bunsod ng pag-ere ng KMJS sa kuwento ni ‘Bea’ na nagnakaw ng milyon sa kanyang pamilya para suportahan ang kanyang KPop collection. (It came to our knowledge about an online post which stated that there were people whose K-pop merchandise were snatched at MRT-Cubao. This is being linked by some to the airing by KMJS of the story of ‘Bea’ who stole millions from her famil to support her KPop collection).
“Nakipag-ugnayan kami sa MRT-Cubao at sa iba pang kalapit na police stations para i-verify ang insidente. Ayon sa pamunuan ng MRT-Cubao at police stations, walang anumang opisyal na naiulat sa kanila na nanakawan o nahablutan ng K-Pop merchandise sa nakalipas na 48 oras. Gayumpaman, hinihikayat nilang mag-report sa kanilang tanggapan ang mga nagpakilalang biktima, o sinumang may katulad na insidente para magawan ng aksyon (We got in touch with MRT-Cubao and other nearby police stations to verify the incident. According to the management of MRT-Cubao and police stations, there was no official report to them about people who got robbed or snatched of K-Pop merchandise in the last 48 hours. Nevertheless, they are encouraging people who introduced themselves as victims or anyone with similar incidents to report to their office for action).
“Nakikiusap ang pamilya ni ‘Bea’ na tigilan na ang pang-aatake sa kanila online at pagbubunyag ng kanilang pagkakakilanlan. Lumapit sila sa KMJS para matulungang mabawi ang perang pinaghirapan nila. (The family of ‘Bea’ is requesting to stop the attacks on them online and revealing their identity. They got in touch with KMJS for help to recover the money that they worked hard for).
“Samantala, kinokondena naman ng pamunuan ng KMJS ang ginagawang trolling at harrassment ng ilang netizens sa aming staff na gumawa ng ulat tungkol kay “Bea”. Nakikipag-ugnayan na rin ang KMJS sa aming Legal Team para sa susunod na hakbang. (Meanwhile, the leadership of KMJS is condemning the trolling and harassment of several netizens to our staff who made the report about ‘Bea.’ KMJS is talking to our Legal Team for our next step).
“Tulad ng ibang mga kuwentong itinampok sa KMJS, ginawa namin ang istorya ni “Bea” hindi para manghusga, pero para magsilbing aral at babala. Walang intensyon ang programa na makasakit, makapahamak ng iba, o magkaroon ng pagkakahati-hati. (Like the other stores that were featured in KMJS, we did the story of ‘Bea’ not to judge but to serve as a lesson and warning. The program had no intention to hurt, to endanger others or create division).”
