The plot thickens as even Malacañang, represented by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, weighs in on the Liza Soberano issue. Here’s what we know so far.
According to a Facebook post dated October 21, Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. urged both Liza Soberano and 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray to “abdicate that group” otherwise she “will suffer the same fate as Josephine Anne Lapira”, the former Deputy Secretary-General of women’s group Gabriela.
[Also Read: Military official urges Liza Soberano to withdraw her support for women’s group Gabriela]
In turn, Soberano’s camp issued a statement stating that they “denounce in the strongest terms the ‘red-tagging’ of our client, Ms. Liza Soberano in some social media platforms.” Soberano’s legal counsel Jun Lim, through her manager Ogie Diaz, also added that: “expressing her love and respect for women and children is her personal advocacy.”
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3673239296061417&set=a.467217743330271&type=3
Now, following these events, Roque explained Malacañang’s take on the warning given to both Soberano and Gray. In a Malacañang press briefing held on Thursday, he said: “Pinag-iingatan lang sila na baka magamit sila ng Left.”
(Rough Translation: He’s just being careful that they don’t get used by the Left.)
“Siyempre, ingat din po kasi…’yung mga Maoist po sa Pilipinas, kung mayroon pwedeng pagsamantalahan, eh pagsasamantalahan nila,” he added.
(Rough Translation: Of course, we need to be cautious. Those Maoists in the Philippines will take advantage of those they can exploit.)
Photo from Harry Roque’s Facebook Page
Maoists refer to those who believe in the ideals of Maoism, a form of communism created by Mao Zedong. And when Roque was asked if Malacañang supports Parlade’s warning towards Soberano and Gray, he said instead that Parlade raised the issue of how “communists were exploiting the two celebrities.”
“Ang issue po, ‘yung posibleng pagsasamantala ng komunista sa mga adbokasiya ng mga personalidad gaya ni Liza at ni Catriona,” said Roque.
(Rough Translation: The issue here is about the possible exploitation by communists on the advocacies of personalities like Liza and Catriona.)
He then added, “pero wala po kaming problema doon sa sinasabi ni Liza at ni Catriona dahil ang ating Presidente, sinusulong din ang karapatan ng kakabaihan.”
(Rough Translation: We don’t have a problem with what Liza and Catriona are saying because our President also advocates for the rights of women.)
[Also Read: Gabriela Releases Statement On “Womanizing” Duterte]
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