Optimum star Claudine Barretto clapped back at a netizen who slammed her for keeping her silence regarding the ABS-CBN closure.
The Lopez-led network went off-air May 5, Tuesday, after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease-and-desist order against the network after its government-granted franchise expired on May 4.
Many talents of the broadcasting company decried NTC’s decision on their respective social media accounts including Coco Martin, Karla Estrada, Angel Locsin, and Gary Valenciano.
However, netizens noticed that Claudine kept mum about the closure. She was also silent during the time that ABS-CBN was fighting for its franchise renewal earlier this year.
On one of her posts on Instagram, a enetizen accused the multi-awarded actress of not showing support to the media giant.
The netizen commented, “How dare you not showing any support for ABS-CBN! Walang utang na loob!”
To which the 40-year-old star replied with, “how dare [you] too.”
But some supporters of the actress wanted to hear Claudine’s sentiments on the closure. However, the actress remained silent about the issue.
Some fans and supporters of the Optimum Star defended her from bashers and explained that ranting over the network’s shutdown won’t change what happened.
Believing that Claudine understands the situation, a commenter stated, “I salute Ms. Claudine for being [silent] about ABS-CBN shutdown.. mas okay manahimik na lng kesa magsalita..I know in Claudine’s heart ..malungkot din sya sa nangyari pero mas maganda manahimik na [lang].. love u clau.. [you’re] still my idol and my best actress.”
“Law is law no one is above the law …. mas okay ng tahimik,” another commenter wrote.
After a long pause in showbiz due to some issues with her siblings, Claudine was supposed to mark her comeback in showbiz this 2020.
In a previous interview with her manager Bianca Lapus, it was revealed that the actress was already preparing for her teleserye comeback.
“Nagpapaganda, nagpapa-sexy. Pine-prepare niya ‘yung sarili niya to make a comeback. She’s really excited to work again,” she said.
Claudine was supposed to star in the movie Untrue which could have been her comeback vehicle but the role was later on given to Christine Reyes.
Her last movie project was Etiquette for Mistresses in 2015 which marked her comeback from a four-year hiatus.
However, she had to go for another break again due to her health resulting in a three-year hiatus in showbiz.
Back in 2013, Claudine had a feud with her sister Gretchen after the latter shared about the former’s mental health problems.
In March 2019, the sisters first revealed that they ended their bitter feud with just a simple hug just a few months before their family engaged in another altercation at their father’s wake on October 16, 2019.