Kapamilya star Jane De Leon earned criticisms from netizens for refuting protests amidst the pandemic.
De Leon addressed why she remained quiet for some time amidst the ABS-CBN franchise denial.
“Each of us has a different approach on how to resolve and overcome these challenges,” she said.
She said that there are other ways to support the network.
“We can show our support in many ways. Let us not be judgmental and imposing on what others should do according to personal standards and beliefs,” she said.
The actress also sympathized with her co-workers who are bound to lose their jobs. Moreover, she explained the threat of COVID-19 to protesters who took on the streets to express their sentiments.
“However, let us not forget that in the bigger picture, we are still at risk because we all have an invisible enemy to deal with. Our health and that of our loved ones are at stake,” she explained.
“Let’s not forget that our Frontliners continue to face life and death situations as they ore being challenged in saving more lives. Dadagdag pa ba tayo sa lumolobong bilang at patuloy na pagtaas ng COVID cases sa ating bansa?” she added.
[Are we going to add up to the continuous rising of COVID cases here in our country?]
De Leon was supposed to play the role of ‘Darna’ which was formerly played by Angel Locsin.
Angel has been active in every crisis that the country faces, from relief operations to protests and noise barrages. That’s why people praise her for being a real-life ‘Darna’.
Thus, netizens can’t help but compare the two in terms of their roles as ‘Darna’.
De Leon’s statement was also assumed to invalidate the employees’ rage on the streets.
Nagsalita to invalidate the rage of employees on the streets? We don't stan an indoor darna. https://t.co/oz7i3bbbQ9
— miss scor ░ MY ░ PUSSY ░ IN ░ BIO ░ era (@scorsaguin) July 20, 2020
Hindi namin hinihingi na lumabas ka. Ang sa amin magsalita ka! Kasi hindi ka ba nahiya na ikaw ang binigyan ng opportunity ng network tapos hanggang emoji lang po kayo niyong gawin or hashtag! 🤯😖 Bago ka po sana nagsalita tinanong niyo po kasama niyo kung maganda sinulat mo!
— Jesselee Tintiangko (@JTintiangko) July 20, 2020
Did Jane De Leon downplay the rallies when she said, “Dadagdag pa ba tayo sa lumolobong bilang ng COVID cases sa bansa?”
Girl.
— AltABSCBN (@AltABSCBN) July 20, 2020
A netizen also said that there are protests because the government values their personal interests more than the pandemic.
"Bakit nag-ra-rally yung mga tao eh may COVID nga?"
Nag-ra-rally mga tao amid pandemic dahil yung gobyerno inuuna sarili niyang interes amid pandemic. And obviously, wala siyang pakialam kung mamatay na lang tayong lahat dahil sa COVID-19.
— Sprockey (@sprocketscience) July 19, 2020
Furthermore, the World Health Organization believes that public protests are vital amidst the pandemic. However, they advise protesters to do it ‘safely’.