Cong TV, Viy Cortez speak vs corruption amid backlash

After joining the public cry against corruption, Cong Velasquez and Viy Cortez faced criticisms from netizens, who recalled the vlogger couple’s endorsements of certain politicians during the previous election.

Velasquez and Cortez joined the nationwide protest against corruption on Sunday, Sept. 21, sharing photos from the event via their respective Facebook pages.

“Magnanakaw ka tapos gusto mo walang sisita? Hahaha. G*** ka ba?” Velasquez captioned his post. (You would steal but you do not want to be called out? Hahaha. Are you stupid?)

This drew mixed Facebook reactions, majority of which are laughing emoji responses. The vlogger then limited the comments section which was flooded by “solid north” remarks—an apparent reference to the Marcos-leaning Solid North party-list that Velasquez endorsed during the 2025 midterm elections.

“Pag ba magkaiba ba tayo ng sinuportahan nung eleksyon wala ng karapatang magalit sa mga nangyayari sa bansa?” Velasquez said in the comments section. “Sabihin niyo na gusto niyong sabihin. Pare-pareho lang tayong ninanakawan.”

(Just because we supported different candidates last election, does it mean I don’t have the right to be mad at the situation of the country? Say what you want to say but all of us were robbed.)

“Mas nakakahiyang manahimik kesa hindi bumoses,” he added. (It’s more shameful to stay silent than to speak up.)

Cortez, meanwhile, echoed a curse directed at thieves, which then earned over 132,000 Facebook reactions—80,000 of which are laughing emoji responses.

In a succeeding post, Cortez, who previously supported Camille Villar’s Marcos-and Duterte-backed senate bid, admitted she and Velasquez were afraid of the backlash that would come after voicing out their sentiments.

“Pero mas okay na magsalita kesa manahimik!” she stressed. “Tatanggapin ko lahat ng panlalait, mura at kung ano-ano pa, kung ‘yun ang ikagagaan ng nararamdaman niyo. Basta pare-parehas tayo ng gusto. Matupad ang birthday wish ni Ms. Kara David!”

(But it’s better to speak up than to remain silent. I will accept all the insults and curses if that would make you feel better. But we all want the same thing—for Ms. Kara David’s birthday wish to come true!)

Cortez was referring to acclaimed journalist Kara David who earlier marked her 52nd birthday and wished for the death of corrupt officials in the Philippines.

“Hinding-hindi ako magsisisi na sa wakas nagamit ko tong FB ko ng tama!” the vlogger added. (I will never regret that I used my Facebook page for the right purpose!)

Cortez also showed a photo of herself in a separate post, while speaking about the “bashing” against her.

“Nababash ako noon, at ngayon nanaman ulit. Tanggap ko ng buong puso dahil alam ko san ako nagkamali,” she said, “Ang pinagkaiba lang ngayon mas malaya sa pakiramdam.”

(I was criticized before and it is happening again now. I accept it wholeheartedly because I know I committed a mistake. The difference between then and now is that I now feel free.)

“Tuloy ang buhay,” she concluded. (Life goes on.) /edv