Liza Soberano’s lawyer has slammed the “red-tagging” of the actress on social media in a statement issued after a military official urged the actress to distance herself from a women’s rights group for alleged communist links.
“We denounce in the strongest terms the ‘red-tagging’ of our client, Ms. Liza Soberano, in some social media platforms. Expressing her love and respect for women and children is her personal advocacy,” said Atty. Juanito Lim of the Lim & Yutatco-Sze law firm in a statement shared by the actress’ home network ABS-CBN.
The actress’ legal counsel also stressed that Liza “remains to be apolitical.”
“She does not support nor antagonize any person’s political views. The important point here is respect for others, a virtue she has consciously practised all her life.”
The law firm also appealed to “everyone concerned to be circumspect in associating our client with their respective political beliefs, whatever it may be.”
The statement came after Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., an official of the government’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), urged the actress not to engage with the militant women’s group Gabriela Women’s Party.
The 22-year-old has been allegedly red-tagged and labeled a “communist sympathizer” by netizens after her recent participation in a webinar organized by the youth arm of the women’s group. She was asked to speak on the topic, “The young woman’s contribution to raising awareness and creating a safe environment for young women amid the pandemic.”
In his statement, Parlade told critics that Liza is “not yet” NPA and shouldn’t be red-tagged but educated instead on the alleged “hidden violent agenda” of Gabriela.
“Let us not red-tag Liza Soberano. It’s not fair to her. She is merely supporting advocacy for women’s rights. She has to be protected in the exercise of her rights. Is she an NPA? No, of course not. Not yet,” he said.
“So let’s help educate her and the other celebrity targets of Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA),” he said of the supposed underground mass organization fronted by Gabriela.
He warned the actress though that if she would continue with her support for the group, she might suffer the same fate with that of a Gabriela youth leader.
“Liza Soberano, there’s still a chance to abdicate that group. If you don’t, you will suffer the same fate as Josephine Anne Lapira @ELLA, former Deputy Secretary General of Gabriela Youth of UP, Manila and defender of women’s rights, even against sexual predators amongst her comrades in the NPA unit she joined which is clearly stated in her handwritten letter addressed to a certain @EMIL,” he further said in his statement.
Lapira, a 22-year old student from the University of the Philippines-Manila, was killed in what was said to be an encounter between communist rebels and government forces in Batangas in November 2017.
“The choice is yours Liza. And so with you Catriona. Don’t follow the path Ka Ella Colmenares took in the underground and NPA Quezon. I am sure Angel Locsin and Neri Colmenares will not tell you this,” claimed Parlade while alluding to the supposed ties of actress Angel Locsin’ sister to the underground movement and the New People’s Army.
Meanwhile, Gabriela Party List hit back at Parlade for “red-tagging and mansplaining” Liza and other women’s right defenders.
In a statement on Thursday, Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas said Parlade was the one “maliciously associating” Liza to the armed movement.
“Major General Antonio Parlade Jr.’s appeal to stop red-tagging Liza Soberano is starkly ironic because he actually red-tagged Soberano in his same statement. By saying that Soberano is ‘not yet an NPA,’ he is maliciously associating the actress with the armed movement when what she did in the youth forum was to only speak up for all the victims of gender-based violence and abuse,” she said.
The lawmaker also accused critics “rabidly red-tagging” the actress are “paid trolls” of the administration.
She continued, “How come these macho-fascists have the audacity to mansplain strong women and lecture them on what to do? And why do they seem so afraid of women using their platform to defend other women?”
“These rabid NTF-ELCAC executives are using their rehashed script to discredit Gabriela Women’s Party despite our long track record of advocating women’s rights,” said Brosas, adding that for two decades now they have been “advancing women and children’s rights inside and outside of Congress. — With a report from Romina Cabrera/STAR
