On May 5th, the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN. It was issued on the basis of the expiration of its congressional franchise. The order effectively shut down the country’s largest TV network.
Coco Martin immediately decried the move in a series of posts on Instagram, questioning why the government would deprive 11,000 people of their livelihood in a time of pandemic. Following his expression of views, the actor has had to deal with critics flooding the comment sections.
Instead of letting the negative opinions soften his stance, it has only made Martin stand stronger in his beliefs. He addressed those he called ‘trolls’ and ‘bashers’ in various Instagram posts, letting them know they could simply unfollow him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_4HiDPAp-d/?utm_source=ig_embed
(St. Scholastica’s College – Manila demands respect for human rights in light of ABS-CBN shutdown)
Martin passionately captioned a post: “GANITO KASIMPLE YAN MGA KAIBIGAN LAHAT NG MGA AYAW SAMIN AT GALIT SA ABS CBN AT NAG DIDIWANG NGAYON WAG NYO KAMI IFOLLOW HINDI NAMIN KAYO KAILANGAN SA BUHAY NAMIN PARA LAITIN KAMI AT PAGTAWANAN SA PINAG DADAANAN NAMING LAHAT!”
He continued: “HINDI KAMI MAMATAY PAG UMALIS KAYO IKATUTUWA PA PO NAMIN MARAMING SALAMAT PO! IFOLLOW NYO MGA IDOL NYO. HINDI PO NAMIN KAYO KAILANGAN!!! SALAMAT PO..”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_4A4ZTgjCl/
(ABS-CBN assures its workers of continued compensation with benefits despite shutdown)
Martin even dedicated a post on how to starve trolls. In his caption he talked about how freeing it is to be able to speak his mind without fear of the repercussions. He said that he has nothing to fear and will continue to fight for what he believes is right.
On learning to ignore the trolls he says: “SILA GUSTONG GUSTO NILA BASAHIN KUNG ANO ANG MGA POST NATIN NGAYON ANG PAGKAKATAON PARA MAKAGANTI TAYO AWAYIN NATIN SILA AT WAG BASAHIN ANG MGA COMMENTS NILA HAYAAN NATIN SILA MAG COMMENTS PARA MAG MUKA SILANG TANGA!!!”
“SA LAHAT NG MGA BASHERS NAMIN LIBRE LAIT WALANG MAG BABASA!!!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9Gt4OgjGR/
(Angel Locsin fires back at ABS-CBN critics: “Sana masarap ang tulog ninyo”)
In another post, Martin talks about how painful the closure of ABS-CBN has been and how it has left them all questioning whether they will be able to provide for their families.
“Habang ako ay hindi makatulog kakaisip kung ano na ang mangyayari sa pamilya ko sa mga kasamahan ko sa hanap buhay at kung paano ako magsisimulang muli,” he admits.
It is with conviction in the unjustness of the shutdown that he says he will continue to speak his mind and carry on the fight: “Nag Dasal ako kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin kung tatahimik ako at mag sasawalang kibo, hindi! kinakailangan kong lumban!”
“Natitiyak ko, na hindi man kami makakabalik agad sa aming tahanan, sa ABS-CBN, umaasa ako na hindi bulag ang batas,” Martin continues. “May mga tao lang na nagmamanipula nito at pilit tong binabaluktot para sa pansariling kapakanan.”
“Pilit na ipinasara ang ABS-CBN para piringan at busalan ang taong-bayan.”
He then promises: “Hangga’t wala kami sa aming tahanan, asahan niyong hindi kami mananahimik at magsasawalang-kibo. Sa mga trolls, bashers at mga taong walang maggawa sa buhay, asahan niyong maririnig niyo ang mga boses na matagal nang pinipigilan at galit na matagal nang kinikimkim sa aming mga dibdib!!!”
What do you think about this?
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