‘Senseless commentary’ of Jay Sonza, Noli de Castro dishonors my father who hired them — Leah Navarro

Leah Navarro slammed newscasters Jay Sonza and Noli de Castro for their supposed “senseless commentary” on political issues.

Leah Navarro (L) and Jay Sonza. Image: Facebook/@MrArthurCrooner, @t2j.sonza

The singer reacted to a tweet from Sonza today, where the newscaster claimed that Rappler chief Maria Ressa is Indonesian.

“How can Ressa be a Filipino when both her parents were Indonesians. She uses a U.S. passport and the American embassy prays that their citizen be given fair trial for her twin criminal cases here,” he said yesterday, Feb. 20.

Ressa addressed the rumor today, Feb. 21 in a tweet where she said, “While I lived in Jakarta for a decade, my parents are not Indonesian hahahahha I have dual citizenship — US and PH.”

“Tremendous resources being spent for online disinformation — like the legal acrobatics,” Ressa noted.

While I lived in Jakarta for a decade, my parents are not Indonesian hahahahha I have dual citizenship – US and PH … tremendous resources being spent for online disinformation — like the legal acrobatics. https://t.co/ssoeUkP53e

— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) February 21, 2019

Navarro retweeted Sonza’s post and expressed her disappointment at him and ABS-CBN news anchor Noli de Castro. Both journalists support the Duterte administration, including the war on drugs.

“Sad to say my father gave you and Noli de Castro jobs that launched your careers. He hired Noli for his voice, you as a comedic foil for Mel Tiangco,” Navarro said, speaking of her father Jimmy Navarro who was a program director on ABS-CBN.

“You both dishonor him with your senseless commentary. You should be ashamed that you did no good when you had the chance,” she added.

Sad to say my father gave you and Noli de Castro jobs that launched your careers. He hired Noli for his voice, you as a comedic foil for Mel Tiangco. You both dishonor him with your senseless commentary. You should be ashamed that you did no good when you had the chance. https://t.co/W8Jw2gVuCS

— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) February 21, 2019

Sonza has yet to respond to Navarro’s and Ressa’s statements, as of writing.

Previous posts on his Facebook accounts also show that he has been critical of the Rappler CEO.

He said last Feb. 13 that the cyber-libel charge against her is for “irresponsible reporting” and not about “press freedom.”

Image: Facebook/@t2j.sonza

Sonza also reacted to Ressa’s statement that it was “easier to deal with Suharto of Indonesia than Duterte” on Feb. 14.

Ressa told Esquire in December 2018, “I worked under authoritarian governments before. In some ways, it was easier to work through Suharto’s Indonesia because you knew what the rules were, and you pushed against those rules.”

Image: Facebook/@t2j.sonza

“Mas gusto niya pala brutal at diktador. Hindi kasi diktador at brutal si President Duterte, kaya ayaw niya kay Digong,” Sonza said. (It seems she wants someone who is more brutal and a dictator. Duterte is not a dictator and he is not brutal, that’s why she does not like him.)

Ressa’s arrest over a 2012 cyber-libel case has raised international alarm about press freedom in the country. The charges against her have been viewed by press freedom advocates as a form of intimidation due to Rappler’s critical reports of the Duterte administration. JB

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