On Sunday, March 27, netizens questioned how Toni Gonzaga and Karla Estrada could support senatorial bet Rodante Marcoleta, who claims he was behind the shut down of ABS-CBN.
At a mini-rally in General Santos City, he introduced himself to the attendees by shouting, “Ako po ang nagpasara ng ABS-CBN!”
Marcoleta is running for senator under the UniTeam alliance of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. He participated in booting the Kapamilya Network off the air by rejecting its franchise application, displacing thousands of Filipinos amid the pandemic.
Gonzaga, a supporter of Marcos, proudly introduced the congressman at the start of the election period, receiving criticism. On the other hand, Estrada is running for representative of the UniTeam’s Tingog Party list currently represented by Yedda Romualdez. The latter voted to reject ABS-CBN’s franchise application well.
A Twitter personality questioned the principles of the two celebrities and was saddened that they had the gall to support Marcoleta.
He’s proud to close down ABSCBN that led to massive unemployment in a pandemic era. Callous ! https://t.co/MGtlig5CIB
— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) March 30, 2022
Kaya walang trabaho ang mga kasamahan niyo Miss Toni Gonzaga & Momshie Karla Estrada. Ang lungkot, tapos sinusuportahan niyo sila. The audacity! 😒 pic.twitter.com/q4OYVbloBq
— @pauloinmanila and 99 others (@pauloMDtweets) March 27, 2022
and Toni G. proudly and loudly supporting him. Ewww! https://t.co/3dOKmQHN24
— R (@monayganda) March 27, 2022
And Otin G supports his candidacy. DISGUSTING! 🤮 https://t.co/MPdGuhnFzL
— 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐲 (@krizzy_kalerqui) March 27, 2022
Other netizens do not want the congressman to win a seat in the Senate.
https://twitter.com/ianpornobi/status/1507962510376284160
saying it as if it's a good achievement. 😒 we already know. don't dream about sitting on the senate. https://t.co/ygPFNqXebx
— 𝓸𝓫𝓲𝓮 (@roniegeesquared) March 27, 2022
Not only does Marcoleta proudly claim he was responsible for ABS-CBN’s shutdown, but he also represents Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).
The INC was believed to have been holding a grudge against the network after it reported in 2015 that its founding family was corrupt.
I'm not against your religion but everyone knows that INC hates ABS-CBN for reporting about the "alleged" corruption of the Manalo family and illegal detention. Charot! https://t.co/gg5V2Wb8eT
— Charot! (@IamCharotism) March 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/Cassti_Stan/status/1507944717941555200
Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo, a son of the late INC executive minister Eraño Manalo, revealed that anomalies started when his older brother Eduardo or “Eddie” became church leader in 2009.
“Binabago nila ang aral eh. Sa panahon po ng pamamahala ng kapatid na Felix Y. Manalo, hanggang sa panahon ng kapatid na Erano Manalo, wala tayong nakikitang anomalya,” he said
“Pero sa panahon ngayon, mas napakarami nang anomalya,” he continued. “Mahal po namin ang aming kapatid. Kaya lang ang nagiging problema po natin, iyung nasa paligid niya.”
“Nasira na po ang doktrina ng Iglesia Ni Cristo. Ngayon po, napakarami nang anomalya,” Manalo claimed. “Iyon po ang ayaw namin.”
In 2016, INC members also tried to boycott ABS-CBN, claiming that the TV station was “biased.”
