Ogie Diaz defends Liza Soberano from bashers over her call for gov’t aid for the poor

Image: Facebook/Ogie Diaz, Instagram/@lizasoberano

Talent manager Ogie Diaz has defended Liza Soberano again from bashers following the latter’s call for government aid for the poor amid the pandemic.

“Thank you so much po sa lahat ng natutuwa kay @lizasoberano (Thank you so much to those who are fond of Liza Soberano),” Diaz tweeted this afternoon, March 23.

“Sa mga galit kay Liza, update n’yo na lang po kami sa pagdating ng bakuna (To those who are angry with Liza, just update us when you get your vaccines),” he then quipped.

Thank you so much po sa lahat ng natutuwa kay @lizasoberano. Sa mga galit kay Liza, update n'yo na lang po kami sa pagdating ng bakuna.

— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) March 23, 2021

Diaz’s tweet comes after Soberano lamented yesterday, March 22, that her “heart bleeds for all the people who cannot afford not to go out and work.”

“They literally have to choose between dying of starvation or dying of covid. Is our country really this poor to no be able to provide stimulus?? Genuine question lang po (Just a genuine question),” she said.

“America has received [two] rounds of stimulus already, waiting on the [third]. [COVID-19] testing is free, vaccination is free. Where is the support for the poor in our country? Madali lang naman po mag stay at home if everyone has food on the table and money to pay the bills,” Soberano said in the following tweet.

(It is easy to stay at home if everyone has food on the table and money to pay the bills.)

While Soberano’s tweets have received mostly positive responses, others argue that Soberano should not compare the United States to a developing country.

“So what do we do? Just sit back and wait for a miracle to happen? Pray that covid just disappears. I believe God works wonders but I believe that he gives us the instruments to make that happen. Sad thing is the instruments/decision-making are not in our hands,” Soberano responded to one netizen.

So what do we do? Just sit back and wait for a miracle to happen? Pray that covid just disappears. I believe God works wonders but I believe that he gives us the instruments to make that happen. Sad thing is the instruments/decision making are not in our hands.

— Liza Soberano (@lizasoberano) March 22, 2021

The US’ stimulus package is similar to the Philippines’ Social Amelioration Program, which was given during and after hard lockdowns in Luzon and other parts of the country.

Many believe, however, that the amount given—ranging from P6,000 to P8,000—was not enough. Earlier this month, Bayan Muna stated that the Philippine government needs to provide at least P10,000 in financial aid to citizens battered economically by the lockdowns.

This is considering that around 4.5 million Filipinos became jobless in 2020 amid the pandemic, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

This suggestion came after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque noted in early March that providing financial aid was not an option. Yesterday, he reiterated that citizens are unlikely to receive government aid amid the general community quarantine bubble in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

The Department of Health recorded an additional 5,867 COVID-19 cases today, raising the total number of active cases to 86,200, the country’s highest since the pandemic began.  /ra

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