Angelica Panganiban said that COVID-19, not ABS-CBN, is the “real enemy” amid the health crisis in the country.
During a Facebook live protest dubbed as Laban Kapamilya on Tuesday, the Kapamilya actress stressed that there are more pressing issues that need to be addressed than the ABS-CBN shutdown.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered the network to stop its broadcasting operations one day after its congressional franchise expired on May 4.
“Tandaan sana natin na hindi ABS-CBN ang kalaban ngayon. Hindi po ang mga artista na nagpapahayag ng kanilang saloobin ang kalaban ngayon,” she said.
“Ang issue ay free mass Testing. Ang issue ay yung pagbibigay ayuda para sa mga mas nangangailangan. Ang issue po ay ang pagiging handa ng healthcare system sa isang pandemya. Ang issue ay ang kawalan ng trabaho ng milyong-milyong Pilipino. Ang issue ay kung saan kukuha ng pagkain ang bawat pamilya.
“Hindi po ABS-CBN ang kalaban. Virus ang kalaban, yan ang kailangan ang sugpuin, yan ang kailangan nating sagutin,” reminded Angelica.
The actress’ strong statements earned praises from netizens supporting ABS-CBN, landing a spot on Twitter’s trending topics.
Angelica condemned the move to stop ABS-CBN from broadcasting, saying that in a democratic country, it is wrong for viewers to be denied the freedom to choose what they want to watch on television.
“Sa pagpapasara nila sa ating tahanan, hindi na po nila kayo binigyan ng kalayaang mamili dahil sila na po ang namili ng kung ano lang ang inyong dapat panoorin,” said Angelica.
“Hindi po ito tama. Hindi po ito tama sa bansa natin na may demokrasya. Sa bansa natin na dapat may kalayaang mamili, at kalayaang makapagpahayag.
She added, “Hindi po tayo papayag na iilang tao na lang ang magdidikta sa atin kung ano ang dapat nating panoorin. At kung ano ang dapat nating pakinggan.”
Angelica, along with other Kapamilya artists and employees, virtually gathered to share their views on their home network’s shutdown in another Facebook session live hosted by Boy Abunda and Bianca Gonzalez on Tuesday.
