Army reservist Karla Estrada apologizes for sharing video with NPA anthem as background music

Karla Estrada. Image: Instagram/@karlaestrada1121

Karla Estrada. Image: Instagram/@karlaestrada1121

In her excitement about her recent endeavor as an Armed Forces reservist, Karla Estrada shared a video that erroneously featured the song “Ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan,” the anthem of the New People’s Army (NPA), as background music.

The actress-singer shared on June 7, Wednesday, a video on her Instagram Reels expressing her elation about being a reservist, where she was seen posing in an Army reservist uniform with AFP officers. Estrada, however, deleted the video after some followers pointed out that she was actually using the song of the rebel group, though it was reuploaded by some netizens on social media.

Despite having deleted the video, the “Face 2 Face” host still received backlash for her post, with some advising her to do proper research before posting on social media.

“‘Di ko alam kung matatawa o maiiyak ako eh,” one @eicvsfascism said. (I don’t know if I’m going to laugh or cry.)

Another @andreiddump got “secondhand embarrassment” after seeing Estrada’s post.

‘Hindi [po ako] aware’

Estrada, who in the last election ran as a party-list representative, then issued an apology for the gaffe on Thursday, June 8, saying it was not her intention to use the left-wing group’s song as background music to her recent milestone.

“Ako po ay hindi aware na ang nasabing musika na nailapat sa aking video reel ay isa palang awitin umano na tumutukoy sa isang grupo na may paniniwalang salungat sa pamahalaan,” she said. “Ako po ay taos pusong humihingi ng paumanhin sa Philippine Army at sa lahat ng taong nasaktan o naapektuhan ng nasabing video reel.”

(I’m not aware that the song used in my video reel is an anthem used by a group whose beliefs run counter the state. My wholehearted apology to the Philippine Army, as well as to those who were hurt and affected with my post.)

The actress-singer said that using “Ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan” in her post was not her intention, as she admitted that she’s not aware of the song’s message.

“Hindi ko po sinadya o intensyon na ilapat sa aking video ang nasabing musika at wala din po sa aking kamalayan kung ano ang kinakatawan o mensaheng nilalaman nito. Nais ko pong ipabatid sa lahat na ang tanging layunin ng aking pagpapalista sa hanay ng Philippine Army bilang reservist ay upang makapaglingkod sa bawat Pilipino at sa bansang Pilipinas sa abot ng aking kakayanan,” she said.

(It was not my intention to use that song in my video and I’m not aware of its message. I want to inform everyone that my only aim in joining the Philippine Army as a reservist was to serve the people and the country to the best of my abilities.)

As host of TV5’s “Face 2 Face,” Estrada’s task was to moderate sometimes explosive fights among the guests and to help them reach an amicable settlement.

She was previously a host of ABS-CBN’s morning show “Magandang Buhay” with Melai Cantiveros and Jolina Magdangal before confirming her departure in 2020. EDV

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