ABS-CBN & Star Magic back Liza Soberano amid red-tagging issue

ABS-CBN and Star Magic in a statement on Friday supported Liza Soberano, after the latter got a red tag from netizens and consequently received a warning from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. that she might “suffer the same fate as Josephine Anne Lapira.”

Lapira, a 22-year-old activist, was killed in Nasugbu, Batangas in a clash between state forces and suspected New People’s Army members back in 2017.

The issue was brought up a few days after the actress appeared at a Gabriela Youth forum dubbed “Mga Tinig ng Nene: Reclaiming Our Voices on the International Day of the Girl Child,” where she bravely talked about women’s rights. 

“Liza Soberano is an advocate of women’s rights and supports initiatives that protect and promote women’s interests," ABS-CBN and Star Magic said in a joint statement.

They continued on to declare their support, adding, “This is her own voice and not of any person or group.” 

“It is our hope that people may be allowed to freely participate in meaningful and rational discussion of issues without having to be red-tagged,” they concluded. 

A number of celebrities, politicians, and netizens have also backed the actress amid the issue. 

In an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel's "Matters of Fact," Soberano's lawyer Juanito Lim Jr. stressed that she "is not afraid of this statement from [Lt.] Gen. Antonio Parlade [Jr.]. Though I must state we take note of the general's advice, unsolicited as it may sound. However, please know that Ms. Soberano will continue to exercise her constitutionally-protected right to free speech and expression without fear nor restraint from anyone.”

Article thumbnails taken from Liza Soberano's Instagram account