Comedienne-host Pokwang has apologized publicly after a video surfaced showing his brother in a viral incident with a father and child in Antipolo.
Pokwang’s brother was identified as the driver accused of assaulting a father and son pushing a handcart in Brgy. San Roque Tulay, Antipolo City, after they reportedly brushed against his white pickup truck.
According to the uploader and witnesses, the father and son were traveling along the road when the vehicle allegedly squeezed past them, causing the child to fall from the handcart and cry. The driver’s violent reaction, reportedly striking the father, prompted bystanders to intervene.
In a statement, Pokwang, whose real name is Marietta Subong, stressed that she should not be held accountable for her sibling’s actions, saying that sharing a surname does not mean sharing the same beliefs or behavior.
“Paalala lang po, ang kasalanan po ni Pedro ay hindi pwedeng maging kasalanan ni Juan. Maaari isa pong isa kami ng apelyido pero hindi naman po kami pareho lagi ng pag-iisip at ng mga gawain araw-araw,” the actress said.
She went on to apologize to the other party, pledging that she would personally visit them, “Ako po ay humingi ng dispensa doon po sa kanyang nakaalitan, lalong lalo na po doon sa anak na babae pasensya ka na iha, dadalawin kita ha. Wait lang ha pupunta ang Tita Pokwang mo diyan. Pasensya ka na.”
Pokwang emphasized that she does not condone her brother’s actions toward the man and his child, noting that she, too, is a mother and understands the gravity of the situation.
“Hindi po ako natutuwa, at hindi ko dapat kampihan yung nangyari po doon sa kapatid ko. Hindi naman din po ako, siyempre nanay din naman po ako,” she said.
Pokwang also called out netizens and certain politicians who, she claimed, took advantage of the issue by publicly posting photos of her entire family online.
“Paalala ko lang din po, doon sa mga nagpost pa ng paulit-ulit ng mukha nung pamilya ko may tinatawag po tayong cyber bullying at cyber libel. Doon po sa ibang politiko na nakisakay po at hindi naman taga-Antipolo, nakakaloka,” Pokwang reacted to the online posts.
“Nagpost pa kayo, sir, alam nyo na kung sino kayo. Alam ko taga-Bicol kayo. Ingat po kayo, kasi mambabatas pa naman kayo so alam nyo dapat na yung tinatawag na cyberbulling, cyberlibel,” she warned.
“Pinost po ninyo ’yung mukha ng buong pamilya ko, isa lang po ang may kasalanan. Asan po ’yung privacy, ’yung proteksyon ng pamilya ko? Hindi po ako kumakampi sa kapatid ko pero sana nag-iingat po kayo sa mga post ninyo,” questioned Pokwang.
The incident prompted action from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which has since issued a show cause order against the driver involved and suspended his driver’s license for 90 days while the investigation is ongoing.
